ScreamFree Parenting, 10th Anniversary Revised Edition

How to Raise Amazing Adults by Learning to Pause More and React Less

By: Hal Runkel LMFT

Narrated by: Hal Runkel LMFT

Length: 7 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

Parenting is not about kids; it's about parents. If you're not in control, then you cannot be in charge. What every kid really needs are parents who are able to keep their cool no matter what. Easier said than done? Not anymore, thanks to ScreamFree Parenting, the principle-based approach that's inspiring parents everywhere to truly revolutionize their family dynamics. Moving beyond the child-centered, technique-based approaches that ultimately fail, the ScreamFree way compels you to focus on yourself, calm yourself down, and grow yourself up.

For those of you who are parents, know parents, or have had parents, the notion that the greatest thing you can do for your children is to learn to focus on yourself may sound strange, even heretical. It's not. Here's why: We are the only ones we can control. This practical, effective guide for parents of all ages with kids of all ages introduces proven principles for overcoming the anxieties and stresses of parenting and setting new patterns of connection and cooperation. Told in an engaging, conversational tone, this audiobook is sensible, straightforward, and based on the experiences of hundreds of actual families. It will help all parents become calming authorities in their homes, bring peace to their families today, and give kids what they need to grow into caring, self-directed adults tomorrow.

©2007 ScreamFree Omnimedia, LLC (P)2007 Random House, Inc. Random House Audio, a division of Random House, Inc.

Eye opening

My children are now in their teens and this audiobook opened my eyes on how to communicate with them.

Every issue I am currently going through with my 15yr old daughter was discussed. The book makes so much sense, but I would never have known how to resolve the conflicts between me and my daughter without listening to this book.

Not ScreamFree Kids or ScreamFree Family

This book got better in the later chapters when there was practical tips for how to set limits, but "scream free" is disingenuous, because there will still be plenty of screaming on your kids side of the coin. Overall I thought there were points that were helpful, but was often annoyed by the author/narrator, and felt like the first third of the book was just a waste of time that kept getting me upset. I didn't need to be convinced, I needed to get to the meat of the book. What was missing completely was an honest dialogue about kids putting themselves in true danger and how to deal with when they don't listen and preventing them from doing things that could cause them permanent physical harm (like running out into the street or playing with the stove, undoing the latch on a swimming pool when they've been told to stay away, climbing to shelves and cupboards high up where dangerous items are stored). I'm not trying to "force my will" on my kids at these junctures, simply trying to keep them and other family members alive. When your kid refuses to listen to reason and still runs away from you and into the street - yes there will be consequences (like not being allowed go out anymore), but in that instant, I need to do what I need to do to get the 4 year olds attention and hope/pray he doesn't get himself killed. Runkel never addresses those tough issues, and quite frankly, I'm still looking for answers on that one.

5 stars

Can this book truly and dramatically help your relationship with your children, spouse, parents, etc...In my opinion, yes.

My parenting challenge is not difficult or extreme. I never really thought that I had to improve my parenting style or approach a great deal. But I did have a progressively difficult time with my 8 year old in the last 6 month. So I got this book with a credit. And I have noticed a difference within a week with my child....and my spouse, and myself.

If you think you could use parenting relationship advice, listen to this book. If you don't think you need to read this book, then you definitely need to...

It is applicable to any parent with children of any age. Make sure you read past the first two chapters. From there, you will be hooked.

CALLING ALL PARENTS: MUST READ!

This audiobook is phenomenal! I was admittedly surprised by the effectiveness of the techniques the author shares in this audiobook. I only listened to 20 minutes of the audiobook the day I began to apply the principles the author discusses. What he shares in this audiobook turned my power struggle with my 5-year-old son into a very connected, communicable, and peaceful experience. This is a life-changing audiobook. I strongly encourage ALL parents to listen to this book. The author's insightful advice can improve damaged relationships between parents and children --no matter the age-- upon actively applying the principles he shares.

Wow!

This easy to listen to, hit-you-between-the-eyes-with-the-truth version of how not and why not to react the way we parents pretty much all do is really something special. It'll make you cringe, then it will make you reframe what you do, and reframe how you view interactions that you witness. The best part of all is that once you listen to this a time or two, you automatically change the way you respond to your children.
I doubt if this will make me a perfect parent, but it has already made me a better one.
I thank this author, and so do my sons.

A must read

Excellent narration and information for parents, and anyone who has contact with children. This book should be issued to every new parent. Teaching the author's theory should be incorporated in every parenting class. Regardless of the child's age, this knowledge reaches across all ages. This book helped me grow as a parent more than any other. I think it is even better than Parenting with Love and Logic. I highly recommend it to any parent, especially those at wit's end over raising those precious little crumb crushers.

How will his kids do?

I have to love these experts who have never turned out a product. His kids are little and could just as well be headed for rehab like other parenting experts. Yes you may control them when they are little but they are smart little critters and the techniques taught here seem to just teach kids how to manipulate adults a bit more.
Of course we need to be in control when we deal with our kids but frankly this is life and I might be the only imperfect parent left.
Maybe kids need to know they can make us loose it now and then and the results aren't pretty.
I am a college teacher and understand that this type of "let them have their space" parenting is raising kids who think everything is negotiable ("Milleneals Rising" Neil Howe, 2000).
Some of you psych majors better start looking at what made the Greatest Generation and teach us how to put some of that into our kids.

Best of three

I just finished listening to three books on parenting; Six-Point Plan for Raising Happy, Healthy Children; Wonderful Ways to Love a Child; and this book, ScreamFree Parenting. Of the three, I found this one to be the best. It was presented in a logical manner, and the author does a good job at providing evidence for his arguments.

While I would have liked a bit more rigor in his arguments backed by scientific studies, I understand his intent wasn't a scientific article but a book for a more general audience. Still, I enjoyed the fact that he made an attempt at providing more evidence for his thoughts just than gut instinct and common sense, (which was all the other two books offered.)

I find the topic of parenting to be a difficult one to research as most is opinion. However, this text did a good job at trying to balance thoughts with evidence and the result is a good book on parenting.

Screaming at Your Kids is a Waste of Time

I just finished the"Screamfree Parenting and I want to recommend it to all parents. It kind of reminded me of a “Solo Partner” for parents where it teaches you to not focus so much on your children and instead on yourself and your actions. I picked this up when I found myself resorting back to yelling if the kids were listening or were just being plain rotten. I had kicked the habit of doing that, and I didn’t want to pick it up again. Checking out my Amazon recommendations, I decided to buy this book via Audible.
The author had a great speaking voice that made me focus on what he was saying. He discusses consistency, labels, and non-reaction when dealing with children. For the past week, since I started reading the book, I have been doing this with my children and it has worked wonders. They are listening now, I am more consistent, and the level of noise in the house has quickly diminished.
One thing that I liked is that he didn’t pretend that one method of disciplining is better than the other. For instance, many parents are divided on the subject of spanking. The author just said that if are not going to follow through with the spankings, then don’t do it and ask yourself why you believe you have to. If you can spank, then do it.
I can’t be much help on his writing style or book format because I did this via Audible, but from his reading, I can tell that it was well written.
Definitely a must-have in a parents’ collection of parenting books. If you are unable to read the print version, I recommend the Ebook.

Practical Sensible Advice

I started listening to this audiobook minutes after downloading it to my iPod. Unlike other audio material from which I've been easily distracted, I listened straight through every time I had a chance and finished listening within days.

The author has a pleasant reassuring tone of voice and his techniques are well-supported and -illustrated with realistic examples.

I appreciated the way the themes were reinforced throughout the book in ways that were neither redundant or boring. I also enjoyed the analogies, such as putting on your own oxygen mask first (i.e., taking care of yourself), in order to be an effective parent.

There was a lot of useful material packed into a short book. For me, these ideas came along at a good time and I started putting them into practice immediately.

Enlightening

Where does ScreamFree Parenting rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Extremely helpful. Highly recommended if you ever struggle with how to bring up children or grandchildren.

I don't know about others, but it helped me

Would you consider the audio edition of ScreamFree Parenting to be better than the print version?

I don't know. I don't have the print version.

What did you like best about this story?

It taught me how to handle my own feelings and react better to my kids needs.

Have you listened to any of Hal Edward Runkel’s other performances? How does this one compare?

Nope.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Not really ...

Any additional comments?

Before "reading" this book, I used to search the internet to see if there are any other parents who hate being parents. Now I love it, honestly! My relationship with my kids changed soooooo much I can't even describe it! No idea if this book will help other people, but did the job for me! Thank you!

Great ideas and hope inside

A great guide to self control as a parent. I will be trying these ideas and am sure they will have a positive effect on our family

Better late than never,you can teach an old dog new tricks

I loved this book from beginning to end ,Mr Runkle made allot of sense,I look after my youngest Granddaughter because her mummy works I love this stile of parenting I wish all this was around 30 years ago when my girls were teenagers there would have been less screaming and shouting