Rating: 
Summary: This book could be helpful if you have a problem child
Review: I have certain memories of how I acted as a child and have been surprised that children today seem to be more mature. It was therefore with some fascination that I found that the authors of "The Indigo Children" had noted the same thing, but not being experts in this field they looked to others better qualified to comment. Lee Carol and Jan Tober have collected articles from many people who work with children who tell us that today's children have a feeling of royalty, believe they deserve to be here, know who they are, challenge authority, refuse to do certain things, are frustrated with ritual-oriented systems, are system busters, act anti-socially, do not respond to guilt discipline, and tell us what they need. Because we cannot handle these children, our society smothers them, labels them as "learning disabled" and drugs them with Ritalin and Cylert. These children believe they came to serve the planet as emissaries from heaven, bearers of wisdom to give us a new understanding of humanity and consider themselves gifts to their parents. By honoring the Indigo Child as a gift instead of a problem we will open the door to understanding their wisdom. We should listen to their message as many Indigos are inherently gifted philosophers, scientists, inventors and artists. Many parents are unaware that their child could be potentially gifted and do not recognize or respect their children although performance scores may be exceptionally high.
But why the color indigo? Nancy Ann Tappe can look at people and see their life color from which she can determine their mission on earth. She can "read" personality. About 90% of children are now born radiating an indigo color. There are four types of indigo - the humanist who will become a doctor, teacher, lawyer or politician; the artist who is creative and into the arts; the conceptualist who will work as a designer, engineer or architect; and the inter-dimensional who seems to know everything and will bring us new philosophies and religions. Punishment will not work while discipline guides by providing logical and realistic consequences. As these children read intent more than words we should treat them with the same respect we would other adults. We should say what we mean, mean what we say and do what we said we would do. Integrity should be our guide. If we want these kids to make wise choices, we must give them the opportunity to make choices, including some unwise ones. Listen, talk, share. Many Indigos have problems with school. It is interesting to note that Albert Einstein found his schooling so distasteful that he could not consider scientific problems for a year. There is a 12-year old who would not go to school because he saw no value in the hours spent there but who helped bring about change in the school to better serve the needs of himself and others. Education must change to accommodate the Indigo Child. Robert Ocker helps children to focus on problem solving, conflict resolution, taking responsibility and character education. Education requires a new vision for the children of the 21st century. As educators we must revisit our assumptions about the meaning, purpose and function of education. We must teach children how to think, not what to think and develop children's abilities and skills rather than memories. These children are computerized and technological which means that they will introduce technology that we cannot even dream of. Real education takes care of the body, soul and spirit. Are there any school systems that really work with Indigo children? There are two established systems - the Waldorf System based on the teachings of Rudolf Steiner and Montessori schools. Waldorf schools are reported to be the fastest growing nonsectarian educational system in the world. If you think you have or know of an Indigo Child, this book could be invaluable. If you are an educator and have trouble with some children who seem to be exceptionally bright, this volume could shed new light on the situation. It is very helpful to learn what these people who have long experience working with children have to say.
Rating: 
Summary: Is your child an Indigo? Probably not...
Review: I see auras, and from my experience, the colors we all exude say quite a bit about us... That said, 90%+ of children being born today are NOT indigo. ADD & antisocial, perhaps - but not indigo. These folks have always been around, and probably comprise less than 5% of the population. I REALLY don't understand where anyone could get the idea that it's more than that, or that Indigos are mainly children... And without judging the authors' motivations for quoting her, the fact that Nancy Ann Tappe "says so" is unsubstantial evidence. However, some of what is written about the actual traits of Indigos is informative... I believe a lot of adults will see themselves in the desciptions. Regarding children, it probably would be best if people quit stuffing their kids with preservatives & refined foods, then pacifying them with ritalin & the like. Props to this book for saying that much. In conclusion, I'm willing to bet that most indigos are being born to "energetically odd" parents, who won't need a book to tell them how to raise their children. As for the others... They should work on appreciating their children for what they are, & acknowledge the fact that every one of us is unique, special & gifted in our own way.
Rating:
Summary: It's all in how you look at 'em...
Review: This book probably could've couched it's philosophies in a less directly "New Age" manner so it wouldn't frighten the herd with it's theories about such radical concepts as "evolution" and "societal change". But it's didn't and I, for one, am glad. This book is all about the new kids on the block - the latest addition to the family of aura colors - kids who aren't like the traditional model we have for viewing children and childhood.
These kids are born with a different orientation in the world, they seem wiser and old methods for dealing with kids (spanking, for example) just don't impress these kiddos. They're not investing in our "tradition" memes. They just don't buy it.
They call "B.S." on hypocrisy and parental smoke blowing. They don't automatically respect authority. Respect has to be earned. Hence these little critters are often dubbed "troublemakers" or "problem children" and raising them can be difficult. However, this book does parents and children a wonderful service by calling on parents to re-frame how they view these children and urges parents and teachers to rethink their old approaches to discipline and child raising acting as their children's advocates and coaches rather than stern and distant authority figures. This book urges flexibility of thought and imagination when dealing with Indigo Children - something I've found altogether too rare in child rearing books. This book helped me better understand, appreciate and nurture my child. It helped me view her strengths and marvel at her differences rather than constantly seeing "problems". My kid is a happy, healthy, self esteem INTACT, gifted fourth grader now.
That alone should garner this book five stars.
Rating:
Summary: Our children are to medicated in my opinion, drugs are a cop
Review: out from real parenting. There are a lot of children that TRULY have add or adhd but many of them really dont and their parents are to lazy and selfish to get involved in the childs life and learn how to handle it. Over 2 years I have had shrinks, MDs and teachers tell me that my daughter has ADD, ADHD or personality disorders. They want to have her on a million and one drug cocktails. Reading this book each and every page I see my child. This book was recommended to me by an Aura Reader our family is close to. Indigo Children is a wonderful read and a great help with my daughter. Very well worth the money I spent on it and then some! I now have peace of mind and a calmer home.
Rating: 
Summary: Hillarious load of claptrap
Review: THIS BOOK IS A JOKE, PEOPLE!! Honestly, before you go buying this sublimely hilarious lampoon of cultish, new-age child-raising remember that it is NOT A GUIDE FOR RAISING CHILDREN WITH TROUBLE LEARNING, it is a joke, and a very clever, subtle one at that. Sorry to blow the whole joke people but seriously, working parents whose kids have learning disabilities shouldn't go wasting their hard-earned money on a joke at their expense. "The Indigo Children" is good for a laugh but parents, there are lots of real books and real experts out there that can really help you and your kids. This book contains no real info, think of it as the "Spinal Tap" of the self-help world.
Rating: 
Summary: The fine line between Narcissism and Autism
Review: There is a fine line between narcissism and autism, and this is it!
Children all over the world do have more similarities in recent decades; we are all trying to keep up with the Jones's and mothers are more likely working. Women CAN get jobs in societies that wouldn't permit that in the past, and they do get them. The children are spending less time with nurturers, or conversely spoiled rotten with all of the decadent garbage of our society that their parents can now afford or are trying to. Narcissism; spoiled, neglected, or both. I happen to believe when you spoil a child you neglect them because you are not preparing them for the real world. You are neglecting their needs to assimilate and function in society, and therefore neglecting them. Moreover, doing greater harm than imaginable because their level of frustration for why the rest of the world doesn't play along to satiate their wants/needs make them very angry with life. They don't understand the real rules of engagement in the world, and are left far behind. Furthermore, children are deeper thinkers and do have the aptitude to create neat solutions if only we will listen. Prior to recent decades children weren't permitted as much simple respect as we give them now. The whole world is on the "All about the children" bandwagon. That is a good thing. My child was described to me to be an Indigo Child. He is a person who is high functioning (Asperger's) Syndrome Autism with parents who teach him to see the bigger picture of life; look at everything from every angle. Every child could be nurtured to see life from every angle. Who knows, maybe our Autistic Children really are more evolved; quiter, more sensitive, usually very beautiful, etc.
Rating: 
Summary: Harmful book! (forced by the form to give it a star)
Review: One of the authors, Carroll, claims to "channel" a spirit named Kryon, whose voluminous messages result in hefty book sales for Carroll. If you can swallow the idea of channeling, you might like this book too. I think kids (we) are amazing creatures. There is no need to resort to the supernatural for explanations of our kids' abilities, or challenges, and no need to establish yet another way for kids to feel alienated -- or should I say alien, as "new child" advocates suggest that these kids have different genes, maybe altered by space aliens. Some parents are looking for alternative approaches to help their challenged children, but I think we harm children by thinking and making them think they are a superior race, as this book and others like it would have us do. Many kids really aren't mature or experienced enough to tell the indigo/psychic children pushers to get a life. I really think it's not okay to do this to kids. Meanwhile more and more people, including private and public schools, are jumping on the bandwagon and taking kids for a ride. I hope parents and educators will speak out against it. Some of the parenting and educational ideas in the book are not bad, but its roots are rotten, and there are many true experts out there who don't resort to harmful "new child" garbage.
Rating:
Summary: Ick.
Review: I'm ten, as you can see, and this book appears to be utter fiction. Where did the authors cook up the idea of kids from outer space? If you actually do a good search on the Internet, you can find that auras appear to be of questionable reality and Kirlian photography is most likely fake. Kids _are_ special, but having New Age parents who are convinced their child is an alien won't cut it. If you actually plow through the book, you'll see that the so-called indigo children are regular kids, maybe with ADD or ADHD, who are coddled to an extreme. Emissaries from heaven? This is the stuff of wishers. The basic idea of an indigo child is a kid who is very creative and (if I may say so) demanding and spoiled. How can these writers tell that these behavior patterns have not been seen before? As far as I'm corncerned, this is just some people convincing themselves that their kids are highly evolved, angel's messengers, and oh-so-special.
Rating:
Summary: Some good advice, but a shaky premise
Review: Carroll and Tober's book describes a real phenomenon: a pattern of traits and behavior in children that is often labeled a "disorder," but in fact represents a divergent (and valuable) way of viewing reality. And I agree that, rather than trying to drug such children into conformity, parents and educators need to respect them for who (and what) they are, communicate with them in terms they understand, and help them to make the most of their extraordinary gifts rather than suppressing them. On the other hand, these aren't new observations, nor are such traits unique to children born after 1978. Palladino's "Dreamers, Discovers, and Dynamos" (first published as "The Edison Trait") describes the same behavior pattern in children and offers similar advice to their parents. Farther towards the New Age end of the spectrum is Jacobsen's "The Gifted Adult," which rates (among other things) "evolutionary intelligence"; but her description of the "everyday genius" echoes Palladino's "Edison trait" -- the attitudes and behaviors which, as the name implies, have characterized "divergent thinkers" like Edison throughout human history. Finally, many other writers have described the gifted person's absolute confidence in their destiny and the rightness of pursuing it against all odds (see, for example, Hillman's "The Soul's Code"). The facts are that some children's (and adults') minds work differently from the norm, that such individuals are often broadly and unusually gifted, and that the "one size fits all" approach to child-rearing and education simply doesn't work with them. But I don't think you need to postulate a new step in human evolution, or read auras, in order to explain the presence of these people today; they've been with us all along. (Then again, maybe now we're beginning to pay attention to them!)
Rating:
Summary: Any mother and father has an indigo
Review: If you want to understand your child read "The Challenge of Children". If you want to understand your partner read "The Challenge of Marriage". Both are based on the Individual Psychology Theory by Alfred Adler developed 100 years ago. Adler was a doctor in medicine and an expert in children. Scientists who conduct research and practitioners who use his theory and base their practice in science and ethical behabior can be reached by contacting the North American Society of Adlerian Psychology. And this is not the only intervention and child rearing understanding frame of reference with the qualities to assure you are caring for your children and yourself. Invest your money in information and knowledge!
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