Kirsten Smith

Acknowledgments xiii

Introduction 1

1. Overindulgence 11

Material Overindulgence

Emotional Overindulgence

How Parents Can Avoid Overindulging Their Only Child

Self-Test

2. Overprotection 35

Why Only Children Are Often Overprotected

Learning to Let Go

Building Confidence

How Parents Can Avoid Overprotecting Their Only Child

Self-Test

3. Failure to Discipline 61

The Importance of Limits

Building Better Discipline

Defining Discipline

Making Discipline Work with a Young Only Child

Making Discipline Work with a Preadolescent Only Child

Making Discipline Work with an Adolescent Only Child

How Parents Can Avoid Discipline Anxiety

Self-Test

4. Overcompensation 93

Types of Guilt and Overcompensation

What Parents Can Do About Guilt and Overcompensation

How Parents Can Avoid Overcompensation

Self-Test

5. Seeking Perfection 113

How Only-Child Parents Can Apply Pressure

Consequences of Perfectionism

How Parents Can Avoid Destructive Perfectionism

Self-Test

6. Treating Your Child like an Adult 135

How Parents Can Prevent Childhood

Consequences of Adultifying an Only Child

How Parents Can Avoid Adultifying Their Only Child

Self-Test

7. Overpraising 159

Praising an Only Child Too Much

Making Up for Lost Time

Common Ways to Overpraise

Consequences of Overpraising an Only Child

Benefits of Appropriate Praise

How Parents Can Avoid Overpraising Their Only Child

Self-Test

Epilogue 183

Notes 185

Resources 187

About the Author 189