End Those Power Struggles and Begin Connecting with Your Child
Noted family educator Mary Sheedy Kurcinka struck a national chord with her bes... read full description
reviews
Aug 17, 2011
Tania
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This well-written book is a fine, worthy follow up to the very useful Raising Your Spirited Child. The author uses the work of Daniel Goleman on Emotional Intelligence to help parents learn to avoid power struggles with their children. The author advocates the need for parents to both ddevelop their own emotional intelligence and to help their children develop this qualities.
Part one gives a good, if not detailed enough, overview of what emotional intelligence is and why it's import More...
Part one gives a good, if not detailed enough, overview of what emotional intelligence is and why it's import More...
Apr 14, 2010
Chrystal
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I really appreciated this book. I was familiar with temperament types, extroverted and introverted, and knew I was dealing with a spirited child. But, I found great insight when she discussed thinker vs. feeler types. I am an extroverted - feeler, my husband is an introverted - thinker, my youngest daughter is an introverted - feeler and my older daughter is an extroverted - thinker.
Most of the power struggles have come about with my extroverted - thinker. I used to think she was More...
Most of the power struggles have come about with my extroverted - thinker. I used to think she was More...
Feb 10, 2012
Dawn
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This is one of those parenting books that you will never stop reading. Why? Because your children never stop growing up and you never stop learning about their development.
For me this book has been one of the best I have ever had the to pleasure to read, and yes it is a pleasure to read.
I have learnt as much about my behaviour and how to adapt it, as well as the behaviours of my husband and children. At some points in the book, it seems as if Mrs Kurcinka studied our More...
For me this book has been one of the best I have ever had the to pleasure to read, and yes it is a pleasure to read.
I have learnt as much about my behaviour and how to adapt it, as well as the behaviours of my husband and children. At some points in the book, it seems as if Mrs Kurcinka studied our More...
Jun 30, 2010
I am about halfway through this book and so far it has been very helpful with providing ways to understand why my child and I react the way we do in certain situations and how we can get better at avoiding arguments. Rather than simply suggesting ways to discipline, the book discusses the context behind why behaviors happen so you can understand both yourself and your child better.
Sep 08, 2009
Megan
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I loved the section about discovering your own & your child's temperament. I learned a lot about myself that I hadn't realized. I also found myself agreeing with Kurcinka's view on reasons why children act out and that addressing the cause is much more successful than reacting to the behaviors. Highly recommend this book for anyone who interacts with children.
Dec 28, 2011
Michelle
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This book, along with "Parent Effectiveness Training," are my two very favorite books on 'discipline' and parenting. My daughter and I have an extremely good relationship, even when it comes to difficult behaviors, because of the practices in this book. I also feel confident in my ability to carry on a good relationship throughout her childhood and teenage years.
Apr 01, 2010
Gina
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I got this from the library and didn't completely finish it before I had to return it, but it was FULL of great ideas for helping me with my son. I read her first book- about Spirited Kids. I liked that book to help me understand my kid a little better, but this book really gave me practical advice about how to parent, and help him with his powerful emotions, instead of just trying to "discipline" him. I feel like it's helping, but I still want to buy the book to go back to as a resour
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Jul 15, 2008
Beth A.
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I enjoyed reading this book. Kurcinka maintains that children are not "out to get" parents. When they misbehave they are trying to get a need met or responding to a stress or problem in their lives.
She covers personality characteristics, stresses, and medical problems, and how they can affect children's behavior.
She has tips to help you teach children to recognize and communicate their emotions and needs so they do not have to struggle against their parents. Rat More...
She covers personality characteristics, stresses, and medical problems, and how they can affect children's behavior.
She has tips to help you teach children to recognize and communicate their emotions and needs so they do not have to struggle against their parents. Rat More...
Jun 18, 2009
Kate
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This book starts out slow, but once I got to the part about comparing your child's temperament with your own, I was hooked. I also really liked the chapter about how kids deal with stress. This was an eye opener of a book. Not only does it explain why your kid may be acting up, but it gives you techniques to diffuse the tension. I definitely recommend this book!
Dec 10, 2011
Alina
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This is likely my favorite AND most useful parenting book of all time. Great tips on how to talk to kids, treat them like people while at the same time raising them with boundaries and expectations of polite behaviour.
May 30, 2011
Summer
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I love the concepts in this book. I've always wondered how I could get my kids to trust/confident me once they're teenagers. This book discusses building a lasting relationship with your children by teaching them about how to deal w their emotions and working with them and not against them. It is definitely a challenge to live by it but by just trying it I have seen the differences in how they express themselves and how I am able to help them do this.
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Jul 18, 2010
JaNae
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I just love this author! All of her books are awesome! (I'm wishing she would write one about "shy" children right now!) She always gives really hands on advice and cushions it with lots of stories from other families. It helps me know I'm not alone--and sparks a lot of good ideas--some of which actually work.
I think my biggest take away from this book was anger management--first for myself and secondly to teach my kids better solutions. Current power struggles have defi More...
I think my biggest take away from this book was anger management--first for myself and secondly to teach my kids better solutions. Current power struggles have defi More...
Jan 01, 2010
Lori
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Not a book with easy quick fixes for behavior problems, but a good read. For me however, this book didn't contain too much new info since I always seem to read parenting books with similar philosophies. This book uses emotional coaching and understanding your child's and your own temperaments as the way to have an easier time parenting. I believe in the premise, but find it hard to put into practice with the day to day tasks to accomplish and myself being so tired and emotionally drained most
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Aug 11, 2011
Eric
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I really felt that this book helped me understand the causes behind the behavior. I'm already seeing an improvement.
Apr 19, 2010
Emma
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Excellent. Gives great advice and ideas for when two hard headed people (read me and Carl) are going at it. How to not get into and how to get out of power struggles. Has been very helpful.
Jan 10, 2009
Jessica
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I finished this book and then read several sections again. The title is misleading. This book encourages parents to understand their emotional styles and their children's emotional styles and to work with those to resolve conflicts. Kurcinka balances practical advice with general perspective on the ways in which we learn, for better or worse, to manage emotions. This is one parenting book I will return to read as my boys get older.
May 05, 2009
Heidi
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What a great book for learning to deal with toddlers who are testing limits and wanting independence. I love the way the author writes about teaching your child to work with you respectfully, the importance of teaching negotiation skills, dealing with different temperaments, and what it means to be an emotion coach as a parent. Great, great book for parents with kids of any age, in my opinion.
Jul 14, 2011
Naomi
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It's taking me a long time to read this (I haven't been doing much reading lately), but I LOVE this book! A lot of what she says completely clicks with me, and makes absolute sense. I wish I would've read this book a long time ago, so I would already have had these "tools" in my parenting "toolbox".
Apr 10, 2011
Laura
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This book uses the temperament traits as well as Myers-Briggs to help parents identify their own parenting style, and how it relates to their child's personality type - and with this understanding, helps outline the tools needed to cope with the more challenging of our little darlings. Loved it.
Oct 21, 2008
Audra
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I really liked this book because it gives insight into the child's and parent's personalities, thereby enlightening the best way to work with your child. I also appreciated that it's not about changing your parenting style, but enhancing it with new knowledge about personality traits.
Aug 12, 2008
Cory
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The book is very useful to help recognize your own temperament and your child's and to take a step back and reflect on how your temperaments fit together. This book is especially useful when you are in the middle of a lot of problems with your precious angel pie.
Mar 24, 2008
Debbie
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This book helped me look at my children and their actions differently. It pointed out to me, in a sensible and clear manner, some of the thought processes they are going through. It really helped me get a handle on some difficult times.
May 08, 2008
Lisa
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This is an excellent book about parenting. It is consistent with research about brain development and attachment. Very practical ideas.
