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Parents all over the world have certain universal aspirations. They want their children to contribute meaningfully to society and to pursue their own dreams. But we appear to be missing the essentials. In this inspiring book, based on 30 years of research and practice, Dr. Stanley Greenspan redefines the qualities of an emotionally and intellectually healthy child and identifies the ways that parents can help their children develop each quality. The qualities that make us call a child a “great kid,” such as empathy, curiosity, and logical thinking, are fundamental and underlie all the academic, athletic, and social talents that a child might develop. We are not born with these traits, Greenspan demonstrates, they come from experience, which suggests that each and every parent can encourage them and that each and every child can strive to acquire them.
We all know great kids when we meet them, but what is it, exactly, that makes them "great"? An internationally recognized leader in child psychiatry, Greenspan (psychiatry & pediatrics, George Washington Univ. Medical Sch.; The Challenging Child) worked with experts from the nonprofit organization Zero-to-Three to survey leaders in such fields as medicine, law, the arts, education, and business to identify characteristics defined as critical to success in life. Great kids, they discovered, have the following qualities: they are engaged, empathetic, curious, and good communicators; they have emotional range, self-awareness, discipline, creativity, logical thinking skills, and moral integrity. Luckily, these qualities are not hard-wired genetic attributes but are learned through experience, and there are many ways parents can help children develop them, such as throwing hurdles into imaginative play instead of directing a script of niceties; encouraging a wide range of emotions, even those considered uncomfortable; and valuing the extensive "why" conversation, which drives everyone nuts. The book is somewhat academic, offering a philosophical approach to emotional development rather than concrete parenting tips, but readers will be richly rewarded. Highly recommended for academic, consumer health, and public libraries.
—Julianne J. Smith
Anonymous
Posted March 19, 2008
I highly recommend Great Kids to all parents and caregivers who want to encourage their child to build a happy, healthy, moral, and successful life! Any child can learn these traits, and this is not just a book for children with challenges, but for any child - infants on up. I have read MANY child development/parenting books, and this is one of the very best. Developing and encouraging traits like empathy and moral integrity - even in infants '!!' - will undoubtedly help many parents raise a wonderful child. A MUST READ!
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Overview
Parents all over the world have certain universal aspirations. They want their children to contribute meaningfully to society and to pursue their own dreams. But we appear to be missing the essentials. In this inspiring book, based on 30 years of research and practice, Dr. Stanley Greenspan redefines the qualities of an emotionally and intellectually healthy child and identifies the ways that parents can help their children develop each quality. The qualities that make us call a child a “great kid,” such as ...