Book excerpt: This book provides a practical guide to raising children from pre-conception to teenage years. It includes areas of interest for parents-to-be, including how to prepare for conception in order to give a child the best start in life and ways to avoid stress during pregnancy and its negative effects on the unborn child. Parents, grandparents and teachers can learn how to support a child's development in fundamental areas like good self-esteem, resilience and managing emotions and behaviour. Practical activities and guidance is provided on how children can develop skills in setting and achieving goals, communicating, building and nurturing relationships with family and friends, managing stress, understanding health and nutrition as well as environmental awareness and social consciousness. These key life skills and personal qualities are the platform from which a child can create a happy, productive and fulfilling life. Parents are also introduced to a framework for managing their family life and making it all work.