Rating: 
Summary: Raising Your Spirited Child
Review: This book was a life-saver! I was having the worst time with my two year old. I was beginning to think there was something wrong with him, but after reading this book, I found out that he is perfectly normal! I just have to handle him a little differently than some other kids. This book had wonderful suggestions and I have now learned how to redirect my son's tantrums before they get out of hand!
Rating: 
Summary: useful, but annoying
Review: Yes, this is supposedly a "classic" guide for parents of spirited/challenging/intense kids. And it does offer some helpful advice. What was most useful was its underlying message of acceptance/celebration of your child. Harried parents can never hear that enough. What was annoying, however, was the author's constant insertion of herself into every last page of the book. "Then I said this", "then I thought that", ad nauseum. It was pretty distracting. Helpful information, but somewhat painful to read given the author's "style".
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Astoundingly Helpful!
Review: This book is a real lifesaver. Upon purchasing it, I tore through it in one night and then settled down for a more in-depth study. All I can say is, it's really amazing! It helps parents of what are traditionally called "strong-willed" children to redefine their children as "spirited."This is not to say the book advocates letting your child rule the roost. In fact, careful reading will reveal that the objective for parents of a spirited kid is to help him learn to cope with the world he lives in with socially acceptable behavior (obeying house rules, for example) without having to change the personality he was born with. It really helps the parent learn about their child's weaknesses and strengths and gives the parent many techniques that have proven to be effective. The author is herself the mother of two, one of whom is "spirited" and is now in his twenties. I found her sympathetic writing style to be extremely readable and the use of a hypothetical class (based on real-life classes the author has taught for many years) of parents to make the assimilation of information much easier than it might have been otherwise. Especially helpful were the sections on sleeping, coping with difficult school situations, and social strategies. Readers who might be turned off by "Parenting the Fussy Baby and High Need Child" author William Sears' recurrent advocation of Attachment Parenting will find most principles here have nothing to do with that parenting style (although the author does say not to be afraid to take the baby in bed with you if you all sleep better that way). Those who do Attachment Parent will find nothing here to contradict their childrearing beliefs. It is a happy medium between "Parenting the Fussy Baby and High Need Child" and Dobson's "The Strong-Willed Child."
Rating:
Summary: The best manual on micromanaging your child
Review: This is NOT a general parenting book--most kids can respond to traditional discipline, and should get it. But for parents of children with special needs, whose nervous systems are such that sensitivites or obessions override the eagerness to please Mom and Dad, this book is a godsend. For my son, who has multiple neurological impairments, we have found that the only way to go is to control his behavior by controlling his environment, while at the same time sneaking in the back way with therapy to rewire his brain and help him better control his own behavior. This book showed us the way.
Rating: 
Summary: Raising Your Spirited Child
Review: I was trying to figure out how to handle my toddler's BIG behavior when I found this book. It's taught me about temperament and how different my child's is from my own. Through reading this book, I understand why my daughter reacts as she does, and why I react as I do. The author gives you the basics needed to work with your child's behavior, as well as your own, with the end result being an easier, happier life for all.
Rating: 
Summary: Needs more common sense
Review: I liked the positivity of this book. I think all children should be viewed as special and cherished for their individuality. In this way, the book is great. However, it is poor advice to tell parents who are at their wits end with their child to accept the behaviour and everyone else needs to adapt and accept the behaviour rather than modify the child's behaviour. Spirited children are more difficult to parent as all of us with these little ones know. However, Ms. Sheedy is advising to give up and let the child rule the home. This may be okay if it were only the parent's lives who were being affected. The rest of the world is not going to be as compassionate and understanding toward the child as parents are. It is more appropriate to talk about patience, love and consistency when disciplining. While it's true that these children are not displaying outrageous behaviour intentionally, it is unacceptable behaviour nonetheless. When spirited children enter the school system, their classmates and teachers are not going to read this book. They will simply not accept the child with the negative behaviour and the child will suffer as a result. It is our jobs as parents to alter the behaviour, since we can not alter the world for our children.
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Summary: If only she'd come to New Zealand!
Review: What an awesome book. We are the parents of a 4 1/2 year old boy who is mostly a hurricane on wheels! This book was recommended to us by friends right at the perfect time when other "knowing" people started to label him as ADHD. Our GP had suggested perhaps we could try Ritalin, but no way, this book has taught us to look at our son, and love him for what he is, even if most days are pretty hard going. I felt that the whole book had been written about our son, as most behaviours described by Mary relate to Wade. It was truly a magical moment to read on and discover we are NOT the only people on earth with a VERY SPIRITED child! Thankyou so much Mary for sharing your knowledge in the way of this book. I only wish you could come to New Zealand to share your seminars with us.
Rating:
Summary: Practical
Review: If you are tired of reading books on parenting that are full of academic based psychology, but that offer little in terms of practical application, this book may be for you. I have a new appreciation for my "sprited" child and have some tools that will help me work with her. My only critique would be that, based on the authors definition, any child may fall in the category of "sprited" or "spunky". But that's not so bad, because it means that any parent can gain some practical insight from this book. (As a sidenote, I also gained some insight into myself . . . a spirited adult).
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Summary: My child is no longer a "difficult child"
Review: Mary Sheedy Kurcinka is amazing. Finally someone who understands "spirited children". I was so lost in thinking negative thoughts about my child. I knew he wasn't the "difficult" and bad child that the other books made him out to be. He is just full of energy and spirit. I finally understand how to raise such a bundle of energy. I cried in the first chapter when she said how many times I was bitter because I didn't have the "easy" child. Now I no longer waste my time wishing him to be something he's not. I have the tools to work with him thanks to this book. What a blessing!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent book - thank you Mary Sheedy Kurcinka!
Review: If you think you have a spirited child on any level - this is a must read! As soon as I picked this book up I saw reflections of my twin 3 yos in most everything I read - I highly recommend this book for parental peace of mind as well as great "troubleshooting" tips!
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