As a father of four, Fred A. Hartley III believes parents often invest in too many "good" things for their children while neglecting the best. Effective parenting requires something moms and dads already possess: the ability to answer every child's heart cry for three essential needs -- acceptance, affection, and affirmation. By exercising this ability, you can raise kids who feel loved and can love others, kids who have a passion for life, and kids who can make great contributions to our world. Parenting at Its Best blends warm, real-life stories with compelling advice to help you meet your children's core needs and ease them into maturity. Each chapter includes an inspiring vignette by one of the author's grown children, revealing how a heart's longing was answered -- and offering encouraging insights for you. Book jacket.