"Originally published in hardcover in the United States by Ballantine Books, an imprint of Random House, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, in 2009."--Title page verso

Foreword -- Introduction -- Why simplify? -- Soul fever -- Environment -- Rhythm -- Schedules -- Filtering out the adult world -- Value-centered family leadership -- Simplicity parenting to go -- Acknowledgments -- Notes -- Select bibliography -- Index

Today's busier, faster society is waging an undeclared war on childhood. With too much stuff, too many choices, and too little time, children can become anxious, have trouble with friends and school, and even be diagnosed with behavioral problems. The author helps parents reclaim for their children the space and freedom kids need, offering a blueprint for change: streamline your home environment, establish rhythms and rituals, include a break in the schedule, scale back on media and parental involvement, and cultivate a values-centric family culture instead of a child-centric one

The 2010 Ballantine Books trade paperback edition and the 2020 Ballantine Books trade paperback edition share the same ISBN, though the contents differ