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Why Smart Kids Worry: And What Parents Can Do to Help
Why does my child seem to worry so much?
Being the parent of a smart child is great--until your son or daughter starts asking whether global warming is real, if you are going to die, and what will happen if they don't get into college. Kids who are advanced intellectually often let their imaginations ruin wild and experience fears beyond their years. So what can you do to help?
In Why Smart Kids Worry, Allison Edwards guides you through the mental and emotional process of where your child's fears come from and why they are so hard to move past. Edwards focuses on how to parent a child who is both smart and anxious and brings her years of experience as a therapist to give you the answers to questions such as:
-How do smart kids think differently?
-Should I let my child watch the nightly news on TV?
-How do I answer questions about terrorists, hurricanes, and other scary subjects?
Edwards's fifteen specially designed tools for helping smart kids manage their fears will help you and your child work together to help him or her to become more relaxed and worry-free.
Being the parent of a smart child is great--until your son or daughter starts asking whether global warming is real, if you are going to die, and what will happen if they don't get into college. Kids who are advanced intellectually often let their imaginations ruin wild and experience fears beyond their years. So what can you do to help?
In Why Smart Kids Worry, Allison Edwards guides you through the mental and emotional process of where your child's fears come from and why they are so hard to move past. Edwards focuses on how to parent a child who is both smart and anxious and brings her years of experience as a therapist to give you the answers to questions such as:
-How do smart kids think differently?
-Should I let my child watch the nightly news on TV?
-How do I answer questions about terrorists, hurricanes, and other scary subjects?
Edwards's fifteen specially designed tools for helping smart kids manage their fears will help you and your child work together to help him or her to become more relaxed and worry-free.
256 pages, Paperback
First published September 3, 2013
344 people are currently reading
1856 people want to read
About the author
Allison Edwards
9 books39 followersAllison Edwards is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Registered Play Therapist who specializes in working with children, adolescents, and their families. She received her undergraduate degree in Education from Northwest Missouri State and a graduate degree in Counseling from Vanderbilt University.
Before opening a private practice, Allison developed and maintained a play therapy program for at-risk and immigrant children in the public school system. In her current practice, she sees children of all ages, consults with parents, supervises counselors, and writes about childhood anxiety. She also serves as an Affiliate Professor at Vanderbilt University where she enjoys teaching future counselors how to work with kids.
Before opening a private practice, Allison developed and maintained a play therapy program for at-risk and immigrant children in the public school system. In her current practice, she sees children of all ages, consults with parents, supervises counselors, and writes about childhood anxiety. She also serves as an Affiliate Professor at Vanderbilt University where she enjoys teaching future counselors how to work with kids.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews
October 18, 2013
My 4-year old daughter asked me while I was driving her to pre-K the other day what would it be like if there was nothing in the world - nothing - no trees, no people, no animals, no flowers, nothing. Because I was reading this book, I responded with "is there something that is worrying you?" She said, "no, just curious", which then led us through an interesting discussion of the planets and how we use microscopes to help us see things that we can't see with our eyes, as well as a number of other interesting topics. I acted like this was a typical discussion to have with a 4-year old, but inside I was thinking "what?????"
Is my daughter a genius? Unlikely, but she is smarter than I was at her age. In fact, all kids are smarter than we were at their age, because the average IQ score rises 3 points every 10 years in the US. With greater intelligence comes more anxiety, because the emotional intelligence of kids hasn't kept with the increase in their intellectual capabilities. The smarter the child, the greater this gap can be, which leads many children to contemplate things that many adults don't even think about.
However, the book doesn't just focus on smart or gifted children. It does an excellent job of describing the different types of anxieties and how we process them. Some people are talkers who need to get it out of their system, while others work thing out for themselves and then talk about it to others, if at all. Edwards lays out the science behind anxiety in such a simple and thoughtful way that made it easy for me to understand. She spends the first half of the book on the "why" and then the second half of the book on the "how".
The "how" part of the book deals with a dozen or so tools that parents can pick and choose from to help their kids handle anxiety. I thought that this section was laid out in a very useful way. It identifies the tool and what type of child would most benefit by it. It then shows parents how to use the tool with their children. I believe that the author did an exceptional job in presenting this information.
I've taught my husband how to use a few of the tools, and we've been using them when we see our daughter's brain starting to spin out of control in regard to her thoughts. So far, it's been working. I'm hopeful that we'll continue to make progress here.
Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone who has a child who needs some help in this area or to anyone who has an interest in the "why" part of anxiety that effects many of us.
I intend to read Freeing Your Child from Anxiety next to see what Chansky's view is on the subject. Until then, I'm very comfortable with having read the Edwards book. That book alone may be sufficient for our family needs as they relate to our daughter's development.
Is my daughter a genius? Unlikely, but she is smarter than I was at her age. In fact, all kids are smarter than we were at their age, because the average IQ score rises 3 points every 10 years in the US. With greater intelligence comes more anxiety, because the emotional intelligence of kids hasn't kept with the increase in their intellectual capabilities. The smarter the child, the greater this gap can be, which leads many children to contemplate things that many adults don't even think about.
However, the book doesn't just focus on smart or gifted children. It does an excellent job of describing the different types of anxieties and how we process them. Some people are talkers who need to get it out of their system, while others work thing out for themselves and then talk about it to others, if at all. Edwards lays out the science behind anxiety in such a simple and thoughtful way that made it easy for me to understand. She spends the first half of the book on the "why" and then the second half of the book on the "how".
The "how" part of the book deals with a dozen or so tools that parents can pick and choose from to help their kids handle anxiety. I thought that this section was laid out in a very useful way. It identifies the tool and what type of child would most benefit by it. It then shows parents how to use the tool with their children. I believe that the author did an exceptional job in presenting this information.
I've taught my husband how to use a few of the tools, and we've been using them when we see our daughter's brain starting to spin out of control in regard to her thoughts. So far, it's been working. I'm hopeful that we'll continue to make progress here.
Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone who has a child who needs some help in this area or to anyone who has an interest in the "why" part of anxiety that effects many of us.
I intend to read Freeing Your Child from Anxiety next to see what Chansky's view is on the subject. Until then, I'm very comfortable with having read the Edwards book. That book alone may be sufficient for our family needs as they relate to our daughter's development.
August 8, 2015
I have to say this is one of the best books on managing anxiety for children that I have read. Whilst the title and the first chapter gives the impression that the whole book is only about anxiety in highly intelligent children, this is not the case. The author gives examples on the differences between how most children will worry compared with the same situation for gifted children. The situations and the techniques are for both. Most of the techniques are known to me, but there were a few new ones (makes it all worthwhile). As a psychologist who works with children, I can honestly say this will be one book I will be adding to my borrowing library for parents to read. I have already recommended it to several of the families I am currently working with. Well worth a read for parents as well as professionals.
September 8, 2024
Loved this! The author provided a lot of clarifying information about anxiety and tangible tips that parents can leave this book with and implement right away. The writing was perfect for the audience, not too technical or or clinical, but still gave a great debriefing of what anxiety and processing looks like for different children and developmental ages. I enjoyed the discussion of Howard Gardners eight types of intelligence, bc it was such a good reminder at the beginning of the book that our kids are all smart in different ways and highlighting those moments of confidence for them can be transformative in their experiences of school and social situations. As an elementary counselor, I will be recommending this book to parents and fellow counselors alike. So glad I picked it up!
January 15, 2023
I read this seeking helpful tools for teaching and parenting and received both! Great perspective and knowledgeable information to help with advanced learners and children with anxiety.
My wish is that the author would publish an updated version with anything that’s been modified in the last decade, for the freshest approach.
My wish is that the author would publish an updated version with anything that’s been modified in the last decade, for the freshest approach.
January 16, 2022
This book deals almost exclusively with anxiety in young children—though there are some other elements that might plague children that are at least mentioned. Much of the material is not cited, which there is a place for—but in a book that is focused on mental health, I always feel better when sources are provided.
Many of the recommendations are fairly straightforward and make sense, but some are also so transparent that “smart” children will see them for the ploy they are. There’s no way to know how effective the recommended interventions might be (because again, they’re not being cited). And some of the intervention strategies seem… problematic? A lot of the interventions seem to be encouraging caregivers to not answer kids’ questions or to weirdly shelter them from larger issues in the world. Which, again, seems to be not treating children (particularly intelligent children, ostensibly the subject of the book) as worthy of having their concerns validated. The author also makes a lot of assumptions about how children will react in any given situation. Edwards provides lots of anecdotal evidence, but never any direction to interventions that might be supported by broader clinical research in children's psychology, developmental psychology, or educational psychology (though there is some mention of broader theories of intelligence).
Overall, the book is… fine? I might recommend it as a first stop for caregivers of young children (maybe 6 or under) suffering from anxiety. But much of what is provided here can be found in better sources that more adequately explains underlying causes and intervention strategies. Or, instead of reading a book by an LPC who is giving (at best) generalized information based largely on her anecdotes, if you can, work with an LPC who can get to know the child in your life and customize interventions to their needs. But as a place to start? This is okay.
Many of the recommendations are fairly straightforward and make sense, but some are also so transparent that “smart” children will see them for the ploy they are. There’s no way to know how effective the recommended interventions might be (because again, they’re not being cited). And some of the intervention strategies seem… problematic? A lot of the interventions seem to be encouraging caregivers to not answer kids’ questions or to weirdly shelter them from larger issues in the world. Which, again, seems to be not treating children (particularly intelligent children, ostensibly the subject of the book) as worthy of having their concerns validated. The author also makes a lot of assumptions about how children will react in any given situation. Edwards provides lots of anecdotal evidence, but never any direction to interventions that might be supported by broader clinical research in children's psychology, developmental psychology, or educational psychology (though there is some mention of broader theories of intelligence).
Overall, the book is… fine? I might recommend it as a first stop for caregivers of young children (maybe 6 or under) suffering from anxiety. But much of what is provided here can be found in better sources that more adequately explains underlying causes and intervention strategies. Or, instead of reading a book by an LPC who is giving (at best) generalized information based largely on her anecdotes, if you can, work with an LPC who can get to know the child in your life and customize interventions to their needs. But as a place to start? This is okay.
April 21, 2021
*I'm in no way a therapist*
I wanted to like this book, I really did. This author really had so many statements that as a mother, I just couldn't get behind. Things like, don't answer your children's questions, kids don't need to know about what's going on in the world. I really felt reading this that there is no way this author has her own anxious kid. The way she would state, "your child will answer like this...", "your child will then do this...", etc made me furious. Throughout the whole book, I was like, what child would answer a question that way, or react how she is predicting. Part 2 was a bit redeeming, and why this review got 2 stars instead of 1. Part two gives actual mechanisms to teach/use with your child. Overall, this book just annoyed me to no end. Would not recommend.
I wanted to like this book, I really did. This author really had so many statements that as a mother, I just couldn't get behind. Things like, don't answer your children's questions, kids don't need to know about what's going on in the world. I really felt reading this that there is no way this author has her own anxious kid. The way she would state, "your child will answer like this...", "your child will then do this...", etc made me furious. Throughout the whole book, I was like, what child would answer a question that way, or react how she is predicting. Part 2 was a bit redeeming, and why this review got 2 stars instead of 1. Part two gives actual mechanisms to teach/use with your child. Overall, this book just annoyed me to no end. Would not recommend.
February 27, 2024
I wish my parents would have read this! I’m striving to do better raising two anxious kids, and I can’t wait to utilize some of the tools present in this book.
March 13, 2023
Gifted kids tend to worry because their intellectual age does not correspond to their chronological age and, thus, they are able to understand more than their peers without being able to understand the source of the worry on an emotional level. This book helps parents understand that with giftedness, anxiety can come hand-in-hand and tries to give parents tools to better aid their child.
This book was recommended by my daughter's school's Gifted and Talented program leader. Alice has been a worrier since about age 8, and it's unclear to me if that is due to a developmental phase, the COVID pandemic or for some other reason, like her giftedness. It's kind of a shame I read this right at the end of cookie season when I was feeling exhausted. I probably missed a lot. But I did find tidbits in the book that were informative. I was able to see that Alice is an outward processor and, more interestingly, Corinne seems to be an inward processor. It was reassuring to see the characteristics of both processors and to understand how best to support each one, since you need to respond in different ways. I didn't really practice the tools at all, but it is good to be aware of different techniques.
This book was recommended by my daughter's school's Gifted and Talented program leader. Alice has been a worrier since about age 8, and it's unclear to me if that is due to a developmental phase, the COVID pandemic or for some other reason, like her giftedness. It's kind of a shame I read this right at the end of cookie season when I was feeling exhausted. I probably missed a lot. But I did find tidbits in the book that were informative. I was able to see that Alice is an outward processor and, more interestingly, Corinne seems to be an inward processor. It was reassuring to see the characteristics of both processors and to understand how best to support each one, since you need to respond in different ways. I didn't really practice the tools at all, but it is good to be aware of different techniques.
January 15, 2024
Giving 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ relative to other books in the parenting genre. Recommended by one of my husband’s coworkers. I resisted reading this for awhile because it felt like I was being assigned homework as the reader in the house, but ultimately glad I did. I found this book to be interesting and empowering, both through the lens of a parent and as an individual who has grappled with anxiety myself. Kept having to remind myself that I was supposed to be focused on the parenting lens. I liked the structure (first half was informational and second half was more concrete strategies) and glad I have the hard copy so I can go back. I wouldn’t say this book was life changing, but it did give me a few key nuggets of advice to reflect on.
October 10, 2022
Note that there is some outdated information in the first half re: “giftedness”. However conceptualizing the styles of internal and external processors (and related baiting for release) is very helpful, as were the multiple connections to how a more advanced thinker will take questions and worries to different levels. Second half of the book holds great tools to select from for both internal and external processors. Tools explained in a succinct, easy-to-implement format for parents.
August 12, 2021
This book was really great. Not only did it give incite into why smart kids worry but it also offers 14 useful tools to help your child work through their anxiety. I also found myself identifying with much of what the author was writing and may use some of the tools to help with my own anxiety. Well worth the read if you have anxious kid(s).
November 1, 2022
There were so many moments where this book made me aha. If you ever struggle with a bright, anxious, stubborn, too smart for your (yes your) own good child. Get this. I listened to it, and then I went and got the paper copy because I need it to refer back to. I wish I had read this book years ago. So go get it now. They break gifted down to 7 categories (which includes sports, academic, social and more). Get it and read it and then find me so we can chat about it.
September 24, 2020
Totally wish I knew about this book years ago. I also like that the author talks about all types of intelligences, not just the types that are recognized by schools. Quick read with great, practical advice that works.
March 28, 2019
3.5 stars
Some good suggestions, but most could be found elsewhere. Lots of it was not relevant to my situation. I was hoping this would address the tendency of bright kids (girls in particular) to be overly perfectionistic and have low self confidence because they can never meet their own standards, and how to address it, but this was barely mentioned.
Some good suggestions, but most could be found elsewhere. Lots of it was not relevant to my situation. I was hoping this would address the tendency of bright kids (girls in particular) to be overly perfectionistic and have low self confidence because they can never meet their own standards, and how to address it, but this was barely mentioned.
April 21, 2024
Highly recommend for anyone who has anxious kiddos. This has been a game changer! So simple and practical.
April 28, 2014
There was much helpful information in the book -- why kids worry, how they mature, what parents can do to help. My child's anxiety seemed rather mild when compared to the situations the author discussed, so I felt a bit better. It also helped me see how my child processes emotional situations. Most of the tools at the end looked helpful, though a few of them seemed a bit silly -- but who knows? Maybe they do help. I was a bit doubtful about the reliability of the author when, rather early on in the book, she makes a statement to the effect that kids nowadays are smarter than children were in the past. Our kids are smarter than us. My child MAY be smarter than me -- but on the whole I disbelieve her poorly substantiated statements on the general intelligence of children today. She says, "...kids today are outsmarting their parents. They win almost every argument, find information on the internet you didn't even know existed and remember everything you said that you wished you hadn't." That, combined with her one "study" showing showing average intelligence increases a whopping 3% every DECADE, is supposed to be proof? Good grief, where is the logic, reason, and may I say, intelligence, behind this supposition? I almost stopped reading the book. But, I was glad I did not. I think she has helpful hints, and her ideas about why children worry sound plausible. I hope she had better proof for those theories than she had for intelligence statements.
July 19, 2013
As a parent with anxiety as well as a child with anxiety, this was a really great manual. My son in particular has a tendency to worry and just reading the stories was helpful to know what is normal and what isn't.
The first part of the book is informational, while the second includes tools (fifteen in total) to help parent a child who is anxious. The combination of information as well as practical use make this book something that will help a wide array of families searching for help.
Overall: 4.5/5
The first part of the book is informational, while the second includes tools (fifteen in total) to help parent a child who is anxious. The combination of information as well as practical use make this book something that will help a wide array of families searching for help.
Overall: 4.5/5
August 11, 2013
I read this title for my Parenting by the Book blog this month. I enjoyed it because it does a great job of disputing what I often hear parents say - that their kids are smart enough to understand what they are exposed to through their media consumption. Edwards not only explains the discrepancy between academic and emotional intelligence but also provides practical tools for guiding children through our age of anxiety.
April 6, 2014
I loved this book. It would be great for parents, educators and therapists. Anyone who works with kids, actually... And while the title is misleading, and covers some unique aspects of anxiety in highly intelligent children, the tools (part 2 of the book) could easily be used for any child struggling with anxiety.
January 13, 2023
Absolutely insightful and relatable. Allison Edwards provides clear, concrete ways to engage with kids with higher processing power, which likely corresponds with increased anxiety in young children. 15 (Fifteen!!) Different simple to employ techniques are taught and illustrated, along with the reasoning behind WHY these techniques are useful and what situations they best apply to.
November 1, 2024
This just wasn't relatable to me at all. I didn't recognize any of my kids or myself as a parent.
I didn't like the prepackaged one size fits all feel to this. Here are the 3 rules that blah blah.. 90% of blah blah. Lots of this or thats - Kids either this or they that. No mention of spectrums.
She constantly decides kids or parents will think this or do that too.
I have serious suspicions that she thinks she knows *WAY* more than she actually does!
I didn't get one useful thing from this. Anything that has merit is so basic and obvious that it doesn't need saying. Everything else is ambiguous, contradictory, and overly generalized to the point that it's an utterly useless waste of time.
And at times the advice is seriously questionable.
Eg an anxious child who keeps asking the same question, like "what time are we going at?". The author has yet another "rule" for this - The 5 question rule! The child may only ask 5 questions about a particular event or topic in a day! *Many* children (and adults) need this sort of information and reassurance in order to feel in control and okay in themselves. Instead of this author's suggestion that you put restrictions on the amount of time the child can gain some semblance of control, order and reassurance, imo it is clear that you should instead use visual or aural cues etc.. You don't just tell an anxious child that they can only ask 5 times! Wtaf?
I didn't like the prepackaged one size fits all feel to this. Here are the 3 rules that blah blah.. 90% of blah blah. Lots of this or thats - Kids either this or they that. No mention of spectrums.
She constantly decides kids or parents will think this or do that too.
I have serious suspicions that she thinks she knows *WAY* more than she actually does!
I didn't get one useful thing from this. Anything that has merit is so basic and obvious that it doesn't need saying. Everything else is ambiguous, contradictory, and overly generalized to the point that it's an utterly useless waste of time.
And at times the advice is seriously questionable.
Eg an anxious child who keeps asking the same question, like "what time are we going at?". The author has yet another "rule" for this - The 5 question rule! The child may only ask 5 questions about a particular event or topic in a day! *Many* children (and adults) need this sort of information and reassurance in order to feel in control and okay in themselves. Instead of this author's suggestion that you put restrictions on the amount of time the child can gain some semblance of control, order and reassurance, imo it is clear that you should instead use visual or aural cues etc.. You don't just tell an anxious child that they can only ask 5 times! Wtaf?
August 18, 2023
“We are currently in the age of Anxiety.” Do you agree?
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 Stars
Author: Allison Edwards
Genre: Educational Non-Fiction
256 Pages (~7 Hours 🎧)
Publication Date: September 2013
My Reaction: I read this book for an online educational college course. Sometimes those book studies are a flop, but this one was great! I found it to be very informative, yet interesting and easy to understand. Allison Edwards is well researched with years of experience in child psychology and play therapy.
The first half of the book discusses some of the reasons why children might struggle with anxiety and the variety of ways it can affect behavior. The second half contains “15 Tools” with specific ways to help children (though many are applicable for teens and adults) Most are things you can implement without delay. The author does a fantastic job explaining the reasoning behind each method and situations it would be most helpful.
➡️Swipe for Book Summary
Read if you love:
👨👩👧👦Applicable Tips for Families
⚖️Wanting Options On How to Help
📈Way to Raise Emotional Maturity
⚠️Content Warnings ⚠️
🌶️Spicy Level: None
😬Language: None
📚Similar Titles:
The Self-Driven Child (William Stixrud)
The Secret of Happy Families (Bruce Feiler)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 Stars
Author: Allison Edwards
Genre: Educational Non-Fiction
256 Pages (~7 Hours 🎧)
Publication Date: September 2013
My Reaction: I read this book for an online educational college course. Sometimes those book studies are a flop, but this one was great! I found it to be very informative, yet interesting and easy to understand. Allison Edwards is well researched with years of experience in child psychology and play therapy.
The first half of the book discusses some of the reasons why children might struggle with anxiety and the variety of ways it can affect behavior. The second half contains “15 Tools” with specific ways to help children (though many are applicable for teens and adults) Most are things you can implement without delay. The author does a fantastic job explaining the reasoning behind each method and situations it would be most helpful.
➡️Swipe for Book Summary
Read if you love:
👨👩👧👦Applicable Tips for Families
⚖️Wanting Options On How to Help
📈Way to Raise Emotional Maturity
⚠️Content Warnings ⚠️
🌶️Spicy Level: None
😬Language: None
📚Similar Titles:
The Self-Driven Child (William Stixrud)
The Secret of Happy Families (Bruce Feiler)
January 1, 2019
This is a fantastic book. I was recommended this book by a friend who is a therapist and owns a behavioral health practice after asking her some questions about my kid's anxiety issues. The book explains how kids process emotions and anxiety very well and how smart kids (most American kids) deal with the world that bombards them everyday. For some kids it's no big deal but for others these things cause anxiety. And what to do about how that anxiety is manifested in your kid can make you start to go crazy, especially if it seems like nothing you say works. This book explains what's going on in your kid's head and then gives you specific tools (15 of them) to help your kid. I even found myself using the tools on myself(!) during a particularly stressful day and it helped a lot. Even if your kid has only a little bit of anxiety this book will be a big help and keep things from spinning out of control. I will be referring to this book a lot in the future. It's definitely one to keep nearby.
October 20, 2022
A friend recommended this after a friend recommended it to her, all of us mothers of 8ish year old boys, so that alone is a pretty good indicator that the mind of the adolescent boy is a MYSTERY and that we're all dealing with the same stuff. I don't think my child is more anxious than the average kid, but he is very, very smart so there was still plenty of relevant information here to help decode the brain of the deep thinker, even if he doesn't have crippling anxiety.
That said, there are NO citations!! I would fail my student if they submitted a paper with no references. I understand that she has professional experience, and also anecdotes from her own childhood (which... come on) but is this information cross-referenced? Has anyone studied this? Or is she just spouting off about what she *thinks* works for gifted kids with anxiety? I will never know because she doesn't cite any publications. Some of the advice or tactics are... not... ones I would use...
That said, there are NO citations!! I would fail my student if they submitted a paper with no references. I understand that she has professional experience, and also anecdotes from her own childhood (which... come on) but is this information cross-referenced? Has anyone studied this? Or is she just spouting off about what she *thinks* works for gifted kids with anxiety? I will never know because she doesn't cite any publications. Some of the advice or tactics are... not... ones I would use...
January 2, 2018
The first half of the book is filled with information presented as scientific truths with no direct references cited. The checklist of anxiety symptoms in the back does not have a reference cited, which is particularly annoying for this type of book. The second half is slightly better, providing actual interventions strategies that you've either 1) heard of but by a different name (ex: token economy, picture schedule, etc.) and/or 2) things you have already done (controlled breathing, redirecting, etc.). It is still lacking in any research citing the effectiveness of the interventions. It's an easy read and if you are not familiar with basic ed psych principles, this is probably a good starting point.
October 4, 2019
You can tell this author knows a lot about anxiety, and especially children's anxiety. I found I learned things that I could apply to both adults and children, and even to myself. She gave examples to help you figure out if your child is above average in intelligence. She also gave specific tools with examples of how to help your children through anxiety. I didn't agree with some of the tool ideas she suggested, but there were a lot of them so you could see which ones work best for your family/child(ren). This was the kind of book I would need to read over and over again until the ideas she taught become habits of mine. A lot of the ideas she gave seemed like good parenting tactics whether your child has anxiety or not. I learned a lot.
July 7, 2022
Very good book
I love the authors background in basketball and she uses a lot of terms that I already use with myself and my family
Book is broken down into two parts
Part one, learning what your kid is “smart” at, whether mathematical, linguistic, kinesthetic, musics, visual, etc, and how they will worry about the things they are not good at
Part two is about 15 tactics a parent can use to help with an anxious kid
I recommend the tactics that revolve around morning excessive and organization, and I recommend against the ones around reward systems
Overall, I recommend this book to any parent that deals with anxious kids, or anxiety themselves
I love the authors background in basketball and she uses a lot of terms that I already use with myself and my family
Book is broken down into two parts
Part one, learning what your kid is “smart” at, whether mathematical, linguistic, kinesthetic, musics, visual, etc, and how they will worry about the things they are not good at
Part two is about 15 tactics a parent can use to help with an anxious kid
I recommend the tactics that revolve around morning excessive and organization, and I recommend against the ones around reward systems
Overall, I recommend this book to any parent that deals with anxious kids, or anxiety themselves
April 5, 2023
Wow, this book is so incredibly helpful. It’s a quick read that’s makes parents with anxious kids feel seen. There’s much practical wisdom with a wide variety of easy to implement tools to help any child who struggles on the spectrum of anxiety. As I was reading, I started implementing a few of the tools and they immediately resolved my kiddo’s anxiety! Brought it down from a level 8 to maybe a 2. I’m so thankful!! Giving this book 4/5 stars because there are a few perspectives and approaches suggested that I fundamentally disagree with and think could be harmful. But if you’re a discerning reader with an anxious child, this book is a must read!
May 12, 2024
I don’t think the title really does this book justice as it had a lot of insight about kids and anxiety/worrying in general - not just for “smart” kids. Having said that, though, it was so incredibly encouraging as a mom to read about the typical development that occurs heading into 3rd/4th grade and how that impacts kids’ emotional development. I felt like this book gave me the reassurance I needed that what we are seeing at home is not something that is only our home alone. I walked away from this with some really solid insight and resources to try, as well as some other book recommendations I immediately ordered.
December 13, 2019
I wish I had this information when my kids were younger! Lots of good tools. I didn’t realize that this was geared towards grade school kids. My kids are all teens. I think the tools though can be tweaked to work with teens and adults. Lots of good information. This will be good to know as I deal with other kids as well.
PS This could also be titled Why kids worry. Your child doesn’t need to have a high IQ to have these worries. I could relate all of this to my very normal average intelligence family.
PS This could also be titled Why kids worry. Your child doesn’t need to have a high IQ to have these worries. I could relate all of this to my very normal average intelligence family.
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