Princess Recovery by Jennifer L Hartstein, PsyD

Princess Recovery

When my kids were little, my primary goal for them was that they be happy.  I didn’t care if they were the next President of the United States, a famous football player, or a brain surgeon. I just wanted healthy, happy children. When my daughter was little, she went through the typical stages where she wanted to be a princess or a dancer.  She went through all the normal angst of comparing herself to the teen superstars.  I worried what the end result of exposing her to media influences would be. As adults, we know the things on television are not real but kids don’t always understand – even teenagers can be misled by the fake images of superstars on television. My heart broke each time she compared herself negatively to some impossible to achieve anorexic model. I had several moments were I wished I had just eliminated the television from our home.  Is it possible to curb the world’s influence on your daughter without making them live in a bubble?

Psychologist, Jennifer L. Hartstein believes it’s possible to bring balance, confidence, and self sufficiency into your daughter’s life while giving her a modern, vibrant childhood.  In Princess Recovery, you will learn how to encourage your daughter to pursue her passions and establish high but realistic expectations for her future. You will learn what Princess Syndrome is and learn how we can encourage our daughters to understand that their self worth is tied to more than what they look like, what they wear, and how pretty they are. Their happiness doesn’t need to be tied to the arrival of a prince on a white horse. You’ll learn how to start small and encourage your partner to work with you on this goal.  The author addresses things like how to deal with gifts that you don’t approve of, how to say no and stick to it, and how to encourage appropriate dress.  The value of brains over beauty is explored along with how it relates to body image. You’ll also learn how to adjust your attitude so that what you say and do positively influence your daughter.

Princess Recovery is a fantastic book that will teach you how to show your daughter that hard work, healthy living, , and being who you are are far more important values that what you have, what you’re owed and what you look like.  The book has examples and information broken down by the age of your child (2-3, 4-5, and 6-8). If you’re concerned about the effect of media and the over-popularity of princesses as role models for your children, I recommend you read Princess Recovery: A How-to Guide to Raising Strong, Empowered Girls Who Can Create Their Own Happily Ever Afters.
Disclosure: I received a product or products in order to write my review.  All opinions are mine and mine alone. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC 16 CFR Part 255 concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising.