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Summary: Excellent resource
Review: This is one of my favorite books for parents. It is geared toward parents who children who have been labelled hyperactive or attention deficit disordered. The author doesn't like negative labels, and gives parents ways to focus on the positive aspects of their children's temperment. The author clearly understands both temperment and child development. The techniques are sensible, practical, and easy to implement. The writing style is clear and concise. The author uses alot of really good examples that make sense and that most people can relate to. The book is one that I, as a practitioner who works with children and families, consider a vital part of my professional library. I highly reccommend it both parents and people who work with children.
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Summary: A revelation
Review: This book has been a revelation - not only into my three-year-old's behavior, but also into my own. Kurchinka uses an easy-to-read style that is down to earth and uses real-life examples. Not only does it provide insights into why my son does the things he does, but it offers solid tips on how to guide him. I had so many "a-ha" moments reading this book. It's one I plan to re-read, probably more than once as he grows up. Her insights into temperaments and different styles has also given me insight into the differences between myself and my husband. Although my son is "spunky" according to Kurcinka's guidelines, this is a book I think any parent can benefit from reading.
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Summary: The best advice for parents and caregivers!
Review: I have read many child development and parenting books and this is my absolute favorite. The suggestions are practical and realistic. It helped me appreciate every aspect of my children, even their more challenging personality traits!! I love the way the author changes "stubborn" to "determined" and "demanding" to "assertive" and so on. This book will change the way you look at your interactions with your children.
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Summary: A positive view of unusual children
Review: When my son was about 18 months old on two separate occasions I was asked, "Have you read, 'Raising Your Spirited Child?'" By the second query I was ready with my reply, "No, do you have it and can you loan it to me?" She did and am I ever thankful. These ladies were able to see past my son zooming around the room and his easy agitation about seemingly normal things that didn't bug other kids and realize it was not just "bad" behaviour, or his entering the "terrible twos" early. They could see the signs of my son's distress. Later they, were able to also help me see the positive aspects of my son's "difficult" personality. We had no way of knowing back then that my son would later be diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome. I am so grateful that this book started me on the right track as viewing my son as a special boy who was just a little more sensitive and persisitent than the other kids. This book gives us pause because it questions the idea that these kids are naughty or that they are trying to misbehave. It gives clear information about what you can do to help your spirited kids. It also gives you the words to teach your kids self awareness. Knowledge is power!
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Summary: a great book!
Review: My child? Spirited? Oh yes! And we wouldn't want him any other way! We needed this book, however, to point out the millions of positives in living with a spirited child. By looking at the positives and not the negatives, we can see the world and our child's world with new eyes. I love her books and would recommend her to any parent who wonders about having a spirited child. If you think you do, you probably do!!
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Summary: You *know* if your child is spirited!
Review: This is a wonderful book for those of us with kids who are 'more'. The first thing that strikes you is the descriptions of the characteristics of 'more-ness': to see things that you assumed were peculiar to your child fit a pattern is very heartening! One of the very best things about this book (and there are many wonderful things)is a fresh take on language, and the importance of the language we use. As we change the vocabulary that we (and even more to the point, others) use in describing our spirited children, we begin to see the good parts of those traits. And the reminder that many of the things that are so difficult with a spirited child are the very things that we value in adults- that these challenging characteristics are really diamonds in the rough, and we can help our child refine them into the strengths that they should be is so heartening. This was one of my 2 favorite 'be a better mom' books (along with the fabulous Marguerite Kelly's Mother's Almanac) until Kurcinka wrote Parents, Kids & Power Struggles, which is overall even better! But- if you have a Spirited Child, start here and start early. You will appreciate it!
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Summary: A Necessary Book
Review: Temperamental traits have been understood, by researchers and theoretical psychologists and, to a lesser extent, by clinical psychologists, for decades. However, many therapists, including clinical psychologists, do not understand the role played by temperamental traits and parent-child trait mismatches in many "mental health" problems that get treated. Temperamental traits describe how people are "wired", from birth, to be and act in certain ways. When a child (or an adult) is near one end or the other of the spectrum on a particular trait, or a cluster of traits, they appear to be pathological. And, if a child is near one end of the spectrum on one or more traits, and one or both parents are near the other end of the spectrum on that/those trait(s), huge misunderstanding and conflicts can result. For examples, if two high-energy, adaptable, expressive, cheerful parents have a child who is low-energy, serious, inexpressive, and not very adaptable, they might easily misread their child as being depressed. Any book that clearly describes temperamental traits and how they effect our lives is valuable, especially if it also addresses parent-child trait mismatches. Turecki and Donner's "The Difficult Child" did this, and here we have another book doing so. Such books are valuable to parents, educators, and therapists alike.
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Summary: Raising Your Spirited Child
Review: This is the best book ever written!!!! I have 2 spirited children and this book helped me to see that they are special (and that I am not CRAZY!!!!!!) It helps to look at the positive and never the negitive. A definate MUST read for the parents of spirited kids!!!!
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Summary: An Answer to a Mom's Prayer
Review: This book is literally an answer to THIS mom's prayer. My husband and I were about at the ends of our rope with our Spirited 6 year old boy and 8 year old girl. We knew they are both "roses in the garden" (you'll have to read the book) but despite substantial discussions at their school with their teachers and some attempts at counselling, we couldn't put our fingers on exactly what the issues were and how we could best support them. This book provided "an on all-fours" description of both my kids and provides some techniques to help, along with some assurance that others are in the same boat and this boat IS sea-worthy. Get this book and read it if you have one of those special kids that the educational system doesn't seem to be able to handle very easily or the one who always seems to react in a way that is unexpected. I am buying my second copy, which I am giving to the school for my son's teacher for the fall. I'll think we'll all feel better when we get a definable issue (NOT a negative label for a problem) and a plan of action. Thank you, Mrs. Kurcinka!
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Summary: A must read for all parents, even if your kid isn't spirited
Review: I absolutely love this book and recommend it for all parents. This book takes a very positive approach to relating to your kids. Power struggles are avoided through positive, esteem building methods. As opposed to the traditional do it or else methods, that do nothing for your child's esteem or to prepare them for the real world, where most things are negotiated. As the mother of an intense, sensitive, persistant, perceptive and irregular son most parenting books simply did not work with my son, he can literally cry for hours over very small things. Letting him cry it out was a joke! This book helped me learn techniques that allow us all to get what we want and helped me see my son in a positive light instead of thinking of him as difficult. I realized it isn't his fault and he is not being this way to make me crazy. We have a much better relationship now and I find him a joy to be around!
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