The Thriving Child

As parents we all want the best for our children, but so often over-manage every aspect of their lives, leaving them overwhelmed, lacking motivation, and at risk of mental health problems as adults. So how can we prevent this from happening? Over their combined sixty years of practice, William Stixrud, a clinical neuropsychologist, and Ned Johnson, the founder of an elite tutoring agency, have worked with thousands of children all facing this problem. Together they discovered that the best antidote to stress is to give kids more of a sense of control over their lives. In this ground-breaking book they will teach you how to set your child on the real road to success and share their trusted techniques to help your child to reduce their stress and anxiety, foster independent thinking, and achieve their full potential. The Thriving Child is essential reading for every parent to help their child sculpt a resilient, stress-proof brain that is ready to take on new challenges.

A guide to effectively communicating with teenagers by the bestselling authors of The Self-Driven Child If you're a parent, you've had a moment--maybe many of them--when you've thought, "How did that conversation go so badly?" At some point after the sixth grade, the same kid who asked "why" non-stop at age four suddenly stops talking to you. And the conversations that you wish you could have--ones fueled by your desire to see your kid not just safe and healthy, but passionately engaged--suddenly feel nearly impossible to execute. The good news is that effective communication can be cultivated, learned, and taught. And as you get better at this, so will your kids. William Stixrud, Ph.D., and Ned Johnson have 60 years combined experience talking to kids one-on-one, and the most common question they get when out speaking to parents and educators is: What do you say? While many adults understand the importance and power of the philosophies behind the books that dominate the parenting bestseller list, parents are often left wondering how to put those concepts into action. In What Do You Say?, Johnson and Stixrud show how to engage in respectful and effective dialogue, beginning with defining and demonstrating the basic principles of listening and speaking. Then they show new ways to handle specific, thorny topics of the sort that usually end in parent/kid standoffs: delivering constructive feedback to kids; discussing boundaries around technology; explaining sleep and their brains; the anxiety of current events; and family problem-solving. What Do You Say? is a manual and map that will immediately transform parents' ability to navigate complex terrain and train their minds and hearts to communicate ever more successfully.

“Instead of trusting kids with choices . . . many parents insist on micromanaging everything from homework to friendships. For these parents, Stixrud and Johnson have a simple message: Stop.” —NPR “This humane, thoughtful book turns the latest brain science into valuable practical advice for parents.” —Paul Tough, New York Times bestselling author of How Children Succeed A few years ago, Bill Stixrud and Ned Johnson started noticing the same problem from different angles: Even high-performing kids were coming to them acutely stressed and lacking motivation. Many complained they had no control over their lives. Some stumbled in high school or hit college and unraveled. Bill is a clinical neuropsychologist who helps kids gripped by anxiety or struggling to learn. Ned is a motivational coach who runs an elite tutoring service. Together they discovered that the best antidote to stress is to give kids more of a sense of control over their lives. But this doesn't mean giving up your authority as a parent. In this groundbreaking book they reveal how you can actively help your child to sculpt a brain that is resilient, and ready to take on new challenges. The Self-Driven Child offers a combination of cutting-edge brain science, the latest discoveries in behavioral therapy, and case studies drawn from the thousands of kids and teens Bill and Ned have helped over the years to teach you how to set your child on the real road to success. As parents, we can only drive our kids so far. At some point, they will have to take the wheel and map out their own path. But there is a lot you can do before then to help them tackle the road ahead with resilience and imagination.

In The Spiritual Child, psychologist Lisa Miller presents the next big idea in psychology: the science and the power of spirituality. She explains the clear, scientific link between spirituality and health and shows that children who have a positive, active relationship to spirituality: * are 40% less likely to use and abuse substances * are 60% less likely to be depressed as teenagers * are 80% less likely to have dangerous or unprotected sex * have significantly more positive markers for thriving including an increased sense of meaning and purpose, and high levels of academic success. Combining cutting-edge research with broad anecdotal evidence from her work as a clinical psychologist to illustrate just how invaluable spirituality is to a child's mental and physical health, Miller translates these findings into practical advice for parents, giving them concrete ways to develop and encourage their children's—as well as their own—well-being. In this provocative, conversation-starting book, Dr. Miller presents us with a pioneering new way to think about parenting our modern youth.

Klein argues that adult success is often established in the developmental preschool years. She shares advice for parents on how to promote such success-driving positive attributes as resilience, self-regulation, and empathy.

Every parent's goal is to raise happy, healthy children who can thrive and flourish whatever the challenges faced along the way. In The Thriving Family, leading psychologist David Coleman shares his unique vision to show us how. Outlining his core principles of 'kind but firm' parenting, he reveals how powerful tools such as empathy, positive reinforcement and setting successful boundaries can lead to a loving, supportive and calm home environment that allows every member to thrive. Drawing from his vast experience working with families, he looks at new ways to approach common issues, including adapting to parenthood; dealing with bullying, drugs and alcohol; creating healthy social networks online and in real life; dealing with separation and loss; enhancing sibling harmony and reducing rivalry; thriving when your children move on. Whatever the situation or challenge, The Thriving Family empowers parents to create the best future for their children, and encourages children to step into it with joy and confidence.

Discover the true story of a mom's thoughtful health journey—and learn how these lessons can help you and your family live a more balanced, enjoyable life. It took months of doctors' visits and several illnesses for Erica Reid to uncover that her young son had multiple allergies and serious asthma. Her daughter, who had been experiencing skin irritation since birth, was diagnosed with food allergies as well. Thus began a cautious, thoughtful journey to more doctors and led the author to totally re-vamp her family’s diet, detox her home, and—as her children grew older—coordinate healthy routines for school and travel. Along the way, Reid developed complementary child-rearing strategies promoting respect, responsibility, creativity, spiritual balance, and love. From heath and nutrition to discipline and spirituality, Reid schooled herself in every area that is part of creating a totally healthy environment in which a family can flourish. The Thriving Child also includes in-depth advice from doctors and celebrity mothers.

This practical and inspiring book introduces 'conscious parenting' as a new way of helping any family home become more harmonious. Lou Harvey-Zahra, an experienced parenting coach and teacher, wants to help parents develop calm and happy children. Drawing her inspiration from a Steiner-Waldorf background, she offers candid, relevant and funny tips and advice for taking a clear look at family life, identifying what's not working, and exploring new ideas for improving parent-child relationships. The book addresses issues such as rhythm and routine, children's play, storytelling and crafts, as well as delving beneath the surface to discuss children's twelve senses, and four temperaments. In addition there is a sure-to-be popular section on creative discipline, plus tips from Dad and wonderful suggestions for making ordinary family moments extraordinary. This uplifting parenting guide teaches how to raise happy children and create happy homes. An accessible, readable book which parents will appreciate for its down-to-earth, realistic approach and insightful counsel.