December 1, 2003
In a world replete with negative peer and media influences, teaching a child to be generous, honest, and kind may seem impossible. As cofounder and president of the International Institute for Humane Education, Weil encourages parents to identify first which values are most important to instill in their children (through a helpful "My Life Is My Message" worksheet). Then she assists them in developing an action plan for modeling those characteristics. Once parents have identified these values, the author reveals four key elements to creating compassionate, confident children: providing information; teaching critical thinking; instilling the three Rs of reverence, respect, and responsibility; and offering positive choices. Next, Weil supplies guidelines for raising humane children in three developmental stages-the early years (zero to six), the middle years (seven to 12), and adolescence (13-plus). While this book explains how to address some difficult situations (e.g., what to do when your five-year-old wants a toy gun) and includes inspiring tales of families altering their lifestyles to embody humaneness, its strong environmental and vegetarian agenda may put off certain readers. Recommended for public libraries in environmentally aware areas.-Charity Peak, Regis Univ., Colorado Springs
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