Ally Parenting Book Table of Contents

Ally Parenting: A Non-Adversarial Approach to Transform Conflict Into Cooperation

By Cynthia Klein – Available now at many online book sellers. Search for Ally Parenting- Cynthia Klein to find soft-cover, $20, and eBook, $9, formats to purchase. 

 Table of Contents

Introduction to Ally Parenting……….1

How to Use This Book: A Quick-Start Approach……..7

The Step-by-Step Solutions Guide……….11

 Section 1 – The Ally Parenting Approach – Your Parenting Role

1. Ask the Right Questions to Find the Right Parenting Solutions…….33

2. Are You an Ally or an Adversary? ………….37
3. The Adversary to Ally Transformation Process ………….41
4. Self-Knowledge Is the First Step Toward Change…………47
5. Soft Power Creates Cooperation, Not Conflict ………….53
6. Child Rearing: An Opportunity for Personal Growth ……….59
7. Your Childhood Impacts Your Parenting ………….65
8. Choose Your Parental Role: Director, Collaborator,or Supporter …………69

 Section 2 – Creating Open Communication

9. The Emotional Support Process Connects You to Your Child …75

10. Awareness of Communication Blocks Is the First Step …81
11. Empathy Improves Connection and Communication …….85
12. Why Kids Reject Our Help – and How to Win Their Trust …93
13. Parent Success Stories of Using Empathetic Responses ….99

 Section 3 – Understanding Yourself and Your Child

14. The Key to Making Positive Parenting Changes Stick ……..117
15. Problem Solving Together Requires Flexible Thinking …….121
16. Why Children Do What They Do – It’s Not About You ..125
17. The Strong-Willed Child’s Attitudes and Power Struggle Triggers …….133

18. How to Melt the Walls Between Mothers and Daughters …139
19. Supporting the Easily-Distracted Child ……….143

 Section 4 – The Director Role – Setting Limits and Boundaries

20. Choose the Discipline Path for Family Harmony …………149
21. Give Directions Kids Will Follow ……….153
22. Add Connecting to Improve Directing …..159
23. Director Parenting Role: The After-Then Strategy ……….163
24. Stop Negotiating and State the Limit Clearly ……………..167
25. Your Personal Boundaries Create Appreciative Children ……173
26. How to Set Your Family’s Electronics-Use Guidelines ………177
27. You Can Keep Video Games from Overtaking Your Family ..183

28. The Importance of Chores and How to Get Them Done ….191
29. Dad Sets Clear Expectations and Learns to Use Empathy …..197
30. Parent Success Stories in the Director Role …………………..203

 Section 5 – The Collaborator and Supporter Roles – Solving Problems

31. Teach Children How to Successfully Handle Life’s Challenges ..213

32. Finding Solutions Together: The Collaborator Role …….219
33. The Three Levels of Collaborative Problem Solving ……227
34. Why “Why?” Doesn’t Work and Other Unhelpful Questions .231

35. Family Meetings Build Cooperation and Family Unity …….235
36. The Collaborator Parenting Role: Managing Sibling Conflicts .241

37. Choose Supportive Problem Solving Rather Than Directing …249

38. How to Be Your Child’s Trusted Supporter and Confidant ….255
39. The Supporter Parenting Role: The “Boredom Problem” …263
40. Parent Success Stories About Solving Problems …………..269

Acknowledgments ………..283

About the Author…………..287

©2017 Cynthia Klein, Bridges 2 Understanding, has been a Family Success Coach since 1994. She works with parents and organizations who want more cooperation, mutual respect and understanding between adults and children. Cynthia presents her expertise through speaking and private parenting coaching sessions. She works with parents of 5 – 25 year-old children.

To learn how Cynthia can help you solve your specific challenges, contact Cynthia at bridges2understanding.com, ,  or 650. 679.8138 to have a complementary 45-minute discovery session. Why keep suffering? It’s time to change!

Copyright © 2026, Cynthia Klein, All rights reserved. Please contact Cynthia to use any of her blog post.