Whispers Through Time: Communication Through the Ages and Stages of Childhood

This post is part of the Virtual Book Tour for the launch of L.R.Knost's newest release Whispers Through Time: Communication Through the Ages and Stages of Childhood. Click here if you’d like to check out all of the other stops on the tour!

Parenting for the Ages

Did you ever read something that made your heart smile?  L.R. Knost's book, "Whispers Through Time", is one of those reads that does it for me.  While my heart was smiling, my eyes blinked back tears only one page into the book.  The author penned a poem that greets you before you even get into the treasure that is her book.  The last paragraph of the poem gripped my heartstrings, as I prepare to launch my firstborn into the world when he leaves for college in six short weeks:

"I wish you enough joy and laughter in the present

to fill the silence that comes too soon

when life grows quiet

and rooms grow still

and your heart beats in constant prayer

for the once-small feet that now choose their own path

guided by the whisper of their childhood."

L.R. Knost

A Kinder, More Gentle Approach

L.R. Knost approaches parenting from a kinder, more gentle approach, which is steeped in research and best-practices in early childhood development.  It's the approach I'd recommend, if you wish to raise kind, compassionate, ethical and skillful adults.  Knost's approach is the shortest distance between the developmentally expected behaviors of childhood and socially-responsible kids who can self-regulate, identify coping strategies and feel like effective agents in their own lives.  It's just that good!  And it applies to kids from toddlerhood through the teen years. 

Kindness is Not Weakness

I once heard a very wise quote that went something like this, "Don't confuse kindness for weakness."  That quote is paramount when thinking about an approach to parenting that doesn't rely on punishment, yelling, time-outs or consequence-based ways to "teach" and raise kids.  The approach recommended by Knost is relationship-based and, without question, one of the most powerful ways known to raise extraordinary human beings.  When we break free from a punitive stance, we find in its place a more efficacious and uplifting way to leave the future in better hands...the hands of our children.  Responding appropriately and attentively to children's needs and developmentally expected behaviors prepares them for the real world in an accelerated manner.  It's pretty simple, really.

Expert Advice from a Friendly Neighbor

Imagine that you live next door to an early childhood and parenting expert whom you could reach out to during every bend in your parenting path, or each bump you hit in the road.  You could connect with that neighbor even in the wee hours when you have no idea what to do next.  When frustrated, irritated, irate, hopeless, fatigued, weary, and plain fed-up, you could reach out to that neighbor and she would give you just the right dose of fortitude to march on and know that you are walking an important and meaningful path.  That friend could single-handedly put a spin on things that would give you the strength to forge ahead, moving effortlessly through the challenge at hand, and deliver you safely to the other side.  That neighbor is L.R. Knost and her approach is available 24/7 in "Whispers Through Time".  This Little Hearts Handbook is your go-to guide for both every day parenting, and when the going gets tough.  Best of all, it fits easily in a diaper bag or purse, so you can literally take Knost with you everywhere you go! And Knost knows. She knows a lot.  It's not just academic, either.  Knost has lived and breathed every one of her words while raising her own six children.  Since two of her children are grown and highly successful, I'd say that her approach is one to emulate.  But that's not the only reason.  I know this approach to work based on thousands and thousands of hours of direct work with families in therapy, as well as my own research on the subject. 

No Hurries, No Worries

A gentle parenting approach may be foreign to some.  We live in a society that has a long history of believing that punishment is not only the preferred way, but the best way to raise decent human beings.  The majority of society and most public schools still operate from this perspective.  Based on everything I know, it is not the most effective way to change behavior.  Being fully present and teaching kids the proper skills to deal with distress, anger, feelings of upset and problematic situations is far more powerful and transformative.  Transitioning to this style of parenting may feel overwhelming, but not with Knost as a guide.  She patiently walks us through, in step-wise fashion, a month-by-month plan to switch gears, slow down and reap the full benefits that this approach promises. 

Get Knost's Book Today

We have a winner! 

After removing L.R. Knost from the lineup,

we had 21 contenders. 

Number 15, Judith Robinson, 

is our lucky lady of the night!

Judith, I need you to contact me via facebook, so

I can get your information for shipping!

Congratulations and thanks to

all who entered!  The book can be

purchased through Amazon.com,

for those interested.



Simply leave a comment below to get a free copy of "Whispers Through Time".  This is a ONE DAY event only.  Only comments left by 12:00 am 6/22/13 are eligible for the

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Best-selling parenting and children’s book author, L.R.Knost, is an independent child development researcher and founder and director of the advocacy and consulting group, Little Hearts/Gentle Parenting Resources. A mother of six, her children range from 25- years down to 25-months-old. Two Thousand Kisses a Day: Gentle Parenting Through the Ages and Stages and Whispers Through Time: Communication Through the Ages and Stages of Childhood are the first in her Little Hearts Handbooks series of parenting guides. The next book in the series, The Gentle Parent: Positive, Practical, Effective Discipline is due to be released November 2013. Other works by this award-winning author include the children's picture books A Walk in the Clouds, Petey’s Listening Ears, and the soon-to-be-released Grumpykins series for ages 2 to 6, which are humorous and engaging tools for parents, teachers, and caregivers to use in implementing gentle parenting techniques in their homes and schools.