LJ
Lawrence J. Cohen
15quotes
Lawrence J. Cohen
Full Name and Common Aliases
Lawrence J. Cohen is a renowned American psychologist, author, and speaker.
Birth and Death Dates
Born: October 21, 1947
Died: (no known date of death)
Nationality and Profession(s)
Nationality: American
Profession(s): Psychologist, Author, Speaker
Early Life and Background
Lawrence J. Cohen grew up in a family that valued education and personal growth. He was raised in a middle-class household with two parents who encouraged his curiosity and intellectual pursuits from an early age. Cohen's interest in psychology began during his teenage years, when he became fascinated by human behavior and development.
Major Accomplishments
Lawrence J. Cohen has made significant contributions to the field of child development and family relationships. He is perhaps best known for his groundbreaking work on the concept of "playful parenting" and its benefits for children's emotional intelligence, social skills, and cognitive development. Through his research and writings, Cohen has helped countless parents, educators, and caregivers understand the importance of nurturing a child's sense of wonder, creativity, and self-esteem.
Notable Works or Actions
Some of Lawrence J. Cohen's notable works include:
"Playful Parenting: An Introduction to Raising Children Who Learn With Joy" (2001) - This book is a seminal work in the field of child development and parenting, offering practical advice on how parents can cultivate their children's emotional intelligence and creativity through playful interactions.
"The New Father: A Dad's Guide to the First Year" (2010) - In this book, Cohen explores the changing roles and expectations placed upon fathers in modern society, providing guidance on how new dads can navigate the challenges of parenthood while maintaining their own identity.
Impact and Legacy
Lawrence J. Cohen's work has had a profound impact on the way we think about parenting, child development, and family relationships. His emphasis on playful, engaging interactions between parents and children has helped shift the focus from authoritarian discipline to more empathetic and nurturing approaches. Through his writing, speaking, and consulting, Cohen has inspired countless individuals to become more mindful, loving, and effective caregivers.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Lawrence J. Cohen is widely quoted and remembered for his insightful and accessible approach to complex issues in child development and family relationships. His ability to distill nuanced psychological concepts into practical, actionable advice has made him a trusted authority in the field. As a compassionate and engaging communicator, Cohen's work continues to inspire parents, educators, and caregivers around the world to prioritize playful, loving interactions with children.
By embracing playfulness as a core value in parenting, Lawrence J. Cohen has helped countless families build stronger bonds and create a more supportive environment for growth and development. His legacy serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of nurturing our children's emotional intelligence, social skills, and creativity through playful interactions that foster joy, curiosity, and resilience.
Quotes by Lawrence J. Cohen
Lawrence J. Cohen's insights on:
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Using Playful Parenting, we can help children release all this emotion in ways that aren’t hurtful to others. We do this by just spending lots of time giggling together, but also with some specific techniques. To help children with fears, for example, it often helps to play as if you are the one who is scared, and really exaggerate it. Make sure they don’t feel mocked or humiliated. It helps if you don’t imitate them exactly, but just take the general idea and exaggerate it.
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Feelings aren’t supposed to be rational. If we stop judging fears as invalid, we can find a deeper empathy.
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Others of us may be unable to put aside our competitiveness or our need to be in control. We get bored, cranky, and frustrated; we’re sore losers; we worry about teaching how to throw the ball correctly when our child just wants to play catch.
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If they don’t think we will play, they may not even ask. They just go about their business, and we go about ours, and we all miss chance after chance to reconnect.
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The most common response by parents to children’s isolation is aggravation or worry. We may focus on the annoying behavior, not seeing the pain underneath, or we see the pain all too clearly and feel helpless to fix it. These are difficult moments for any parent. What we need are keys to unlock the door to that fortress of isolation and help the child out again into the fields of play. Playful Parenting provides those keys.
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Play is also a way to be close and, even more important, a way to reconnect after the closeness has been severed. Chimpanzees like to tickle one another’s palms, especially after they have had a fight. Thus, the second purpose of play serves our incredible – almost bottomless – need for attachment and affection and closeness.
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The fact is, we adults don’t have much room in our lives for fun and games. Our days are filled with stress, obligations, and hard work. We may be stiff, tired, and easily bored when we try to get on the floor and play with children – especially when it means switching gears from a stressful day of work or household chores.
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But sometimes children do not connect or reconnect so easily. They may feel so isolated that they retreat into a corner, or come out aggressively with both arms swinging. They may be annoying, obnoxious, or downright infuriating as they try desperately to signal us that they need more connection. These situations call for creating more playtime, not doling out punishment or leaving the lonely child all alone.
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Play is fun, but is also meaningful and complex. The more intelligent the animal, the more it plays.
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Maybe we swore we would never be harsh with our children the way others were harsh with us. Then, just when they need us most - when they act up and misbehave and call us names and son on - we get angry and punish them, or feel hurt and block them out. We momentarily forget how fragile our little ones are, just as they forget about cooperation or sharing or calming down and following the rules.
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