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Raising Your Spirited Child: A Guide for Parents Whose Child is More Intense, Sensitive, Perceptive, Persistent, and Energetic
by
Newly revised, featuring the most up-to-date research, effective strategies, and real-life stories
The spirited child—often called "difficult" or "strong-willed"—possesses traits we value in adults yet find challenging in children. Research shows that spirited kids are wired to be "more"—by temperament, they are more intense, sensitive, perceptive, persistent, and uncomfort ...more
The spirited child—often called "difficult" or "strong-willed"—possesses traits we value in adults yet find challenging in children. Research shows that spirited kids are wired to be "more"—by temperament, they are more intense, sensitive, perceptive, persistent, and uncomfort ...more
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Paperback, 496 pages
Published
November 28th 2006
by William Morrow Paperbacks
(first published August 1st 1991)
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Start your review of Raising Your Spirited Child: A Guide for Parents Whose Child is More Intense, Sensitive, Perceptive, Persistent, and Energetic
Is is too much of an exaggeration to say this book saved my life? Well, perhaps it is, but in all honesty, this book improved my quality of life and helped me understand my 3 year old's personality. My child is definitely more intense and sensitive than many other children--but now I've learned to value and appreciate her in a new way. I also know how to be an advocate for her in preschool and future school settings. Seriously, I am a better mommy due to the facts and advice found in this book.
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warning: this review is kind of long because I want to remember certain things before I return this to the library.
I have had this book recommended to me by several people but had never read it because I didn't think my kids were "spirited". They aren't hyper, but I was totally misunderstanding the use of the word. The opening page of this books says "I ... secretly needed to talk with other parents who understood what is was like to live with a child who could scream for 45 minutes because his ...more
I have had this book recommended to me by several people but had never read it because I didn't think my kids were "spirited". They aren't hyper, but I was totally misunderstanding the use of the word. The opening page of this books says "I ... secretly needed to talk with other parents who understood what is was like to live with a child who could scream for 45 minutes because his ...more
This verbose tome often seemed to take awhile to get to the point, but I preferred it to Taming Your Spirited Child; it was a little less "you're child is never wrong" in its approach. The self-scoring section was helpful in giving me a general idea of where my kid fell on the scale and making me realize that she is perhaps more spunky than spirited and that normal discipline methods probably still apply. I did glean one or two helpful things from the book, the most useful of which has been her
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MY NOTES/QUOTES/AND USEFUL BITS:
This is called the Pygmalion Effect and has been well documented by researchers. The reality is that children learn what hey are from others in their lives. Think about ht e spirited children you know. What words do you use to describe them? Do they sound like the million-dollar words created by advertising companies, words that can make you wish you could have even more children who are spirited? Are they the kind of descriptors that would make others envy you t ...more
This is called the Pygmalion Effect and has been well documented by researchers. The reality is that children learn what hey are from others in their lives. Think about ht e spirited children you know. What words do you use to describe them? Do they sound like the million-dollar words created by advertising companies, words that can make you wish you could have even more children who are spirited? Are they the kind of descriptors that would make others envy you t ...more
Read this book and I swear its written about my oldest son! Really helped me understand him and better deal with some of the issues we were having. I completely changed my way of discipline and also changed some of the situations where I realised he would become over stimulated and therefore this would cause problems. Having read this book after a few months of me changing my patterns and the things we did he became a different child. I recommend this to any parent that has a spirited child, it
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I cried when I started this book. It was such a relief to know that there were other parents out there like me, with kids like mine! It was validating to know that some children DO require more input than others: I felt like my hard work was finally recognized.
As I continued, what stood out, even beyond the helpful advice and tips for handling the intense traits of a spirited child, was her positive perspective. I was able to shed the burden I was feeling about having a "spirited" child and loo ...more
As I continued, what stood out, even beyond the helpful advice and tips for handling the intense traits of a spirited child, was her positive perspective. I was able to shed the burden I was feeling about having a "spirited" child and loo ...more
I found this book stunningly useful and reassuring. Kurcinka emphasizes that those larger-than-life size reactions your preschooler are having come from her real reactions to things and that understanding the temperamental sources of some of those reactions (like being slow to adapt to a new situation or being high energy and needing to move) can allow you to handle them better and to facilitate them where you can and redirect them where you can't. While reading Kurcinka's book, I found myself b
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My sister Amy recommended this book when Ellie was a toddler, she'd had a friend who'd used it with her son and loved it. It was very interesting, and gave me a lot of insight into not only my kids, but Jerem! I loved how the author puts all of the characteristics we usually try to squash out of children into a positive light. It also tells you how to deal with the daily trials of having a spirited child--how to avoid the battles. I'm a "mellow" person, and so was Hannah, so when "spunky" Megan
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I found a LOT to really like about this book. There were moments when it actually brought me to tears, because what I was reading was, for once, EXACTLY like reading about my kid...and my reactions. In fact, I'm going to make my husband read this because I think there are some really important observations we can use to be better parents for our spunky/spirited child.
There are parts of the book that don't apply to us, which I think would be the case for many parents. But what parenting book is ...more
There are parts of the book that don't apply to us, which I think would be the case for many parents. But what parenting book is ...more
I began this with a lot of cynicism, since every other parenting book I'd ever read seemed to be talking about a child quite different than mine. Fortunately, this book made a huge impact on me, my husband, and the way we understand and appreciate our daughter. I only wish I would have read it earlier - it would have prevented a lot of frustration and hurt feelings.
I love that the book's premise isn't to "fix" your child - it unapologetically says, "this is who your kid is, you can't change 'em ...more
I love that the book's premise isn't to "fix" your child - it unapologetically says, "this is who your kid is, you can't change 'em ...more
Without a doubt this book has made me a better parent, more able to both understand and work with the spirit of my three year old. This book has helped teach me the different ways she is wired, changing my frustration and exasperation into understanding and empathy. I feel not only more patient and loving with her now, but also equipped with the tools I need in the more difficult moments. It has changed our relationship in so many amazing ways. I am so grateful to have had this book recommended
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This book is fantastic. If you think you have a kid who is More, I can't recommend this one highly enough.
Toby has always been an intense child - even in the womb he was a nutball. I was at the end of my rope a few weeks ago and truly did not know what to do with this kid - nothing ever works. No really, nothing I have ever tried discipline wise has ever helped. Except for screaming - we told him if he screamed a bear would eat him. This cut down on 90% of the screaming, but I'm not really want ...more
Toby has always been an intense child - even in the womb he was a nutball. I was at the end of my rope a few weeks ago and truly did not know what to do with this kid - nothing ever works. No really, nothing I have ever tried discipline wise has ever helped. Except for screaming - we told him if he screamed a bear would eat him. This cut down on 90% of the screaming, but I'm not really want ...more
I got my answer in the first chapter of this book when I took a quiz that surprised me. After the quiz to identify whether or not my child was spirited, I was surprised to find a quiz to discover if I was spirited. When I discovered that I am a spirited parent, that was all I needed to know. My child didn't need to change, I needed to to change. Life was completely different after that.
Today, my spirited child is a 20 year old American Soldier and a missionary who is the light and joy of my life ...more
Today, my spirited child is a 20 year old American Soldier and a missionary who is the light and joy of my life ...more
A very verbose tome when I, with my savage (excuse me, energetic) 3 year old, am at the end of my rope trying to understand him, live with him, not sell him on ebay.
I wanted the facts laid out for me like boom, boom, boom. I wanted someone to hold my hand and say, "when he does x, you do y."
I don't know that there is a book in existence that can do that. However, I'll keep chugging along, reading parenting book after parenting book hoping that someday I am so filled with parenting wisdom that I ...more
I wanted the facts laid out for me like boom, boom, boom. I wanted someone to hold my hand and say, "when he does x, you do y."
I don't know that there is a book in existence that can do that. However, I'll keep chugging along, reading parenting book after parenting book hoping that someday I am so filled with parenting wisdom that I ...more
Oct 29, 2015
Liesl Shurtliff
added it
My youngest is basically five children in one. So much energy. So intense. So strong-willed. Takes flipping forever to do EVERYTHING. This book is helping me understand his temperament and know how to work with him. I'm learning to look at all his traits in a positive light and finding new ways to communicate and negotiate. It doesn't fix everything overnight, and some of the ideas/suggestions in the book seem a bit like throwing spaghetti at a wall, see what sticks, but it's giving me some hope
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Good strategies for all parents.
The story of how I got this book is funny. My daughter had been with her preschool music teacher about three weeks before, one day, the teacher just handed me this book. She simply gave it to me. "I want you to have this." (If you know me, I'll let you guess which daughter prompted this hilarious moment of generosity.)
I'm so glad she did give it to me, because the chapter about labeling alone has helped me so much with both my older children. I actually started crying with relief as I followed t ...more
I'm so glad she did give it to me, because the chapter about labeling alone has helped me so much with both my older children. I actually started crying with relief as I followed t ...more
I picked this up after a few friends suggested it. At times we struggle with focusing our son's energy in positive directions and I thought this might be helpful. While I don't think my son falls into the truly "spirited" category, many of the attributes outlined in the book did apply to him and it was good to read a bit more about facets of his personality and temperament.
Quite honestly, I didn't learn a whole heck of a lot of new techniques. If anything, the author reassured me that I am alre ...more
Quite honestly, I didn't learn a whole heck of a lot of new techniques. If anything, the author reassured me that I am alre ...more
This book was the most helpful of all behavioral books I've read about my oldest child. I came away with tools, hope and above all a feeling that I can raise a very intense, sensitive, perceptive, persistent & energetic boy...Mark is all these things at one time or another and at times I was at a loss of how to work with it.
The way Kurcinka writes was very helpful in breaking down each special trait and I enjoyed the examples tremendously in driving home her points.
Wonderful book and one that I ...more
The way Kurcinka writes was very helpful in breaking down each special trait and I enjoyed the examples tremendously in driving home her points.
Wonderful book and one that I ...more
I found the first part of this book, which consists of detailed descriptions of the temperamental traits of spirited children, very interesting, and definitely worth reading. It gave me a great deal of insight into my daughter, myself, and the dynamics within our family. The second part of the book, which attempts to teach the parent how to live with the spirited child, however, was a huge disappointment to me. I simply do not agree with the author's philosophy or methods, and thus there was rea
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Often reading through parenting books is like shopping for a used car. There are a lot of books with scant ideas pretending they're worth the 300 pages they're printed on, like slimy salesmen trying to pawn off piles of junk at full price. The ratio of help to filler can be aggravating. So imagine my surprise when I found this parenting book: one that not only earned its pages in good ideas but exceeded my expectations. If you have a spirited child this is *the* book to read.
My wife and I didn't ...more
My wife and I didn't ...more
One of best books on children I’ve read. Not just looks at kids as spirited but also parental demeanors and how they flow together. Mary also very good about this not be the must do thing but suggestions that will work for your family and what’s worked for others. I learned I’m a spirited adult which makes parenting a bit more difficult. Can not recommend enough. Also those tough moments (kid hard to fall asleep, needing a time in more than time outs) she speaks of with support and to know count
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Here's my review from Amazon on this book.
This book has been SO WONDERFUL!!!!!!! If your child is spirited, READ IT!!!
I'm so grateful for the tools and mindset that this book gave me. I felt punished every day for over a year. "Why did I have to get this child? I don't want this one. Take him back, please!" I also had terrible postpartum depression at the time, which made everything worse than it already was, plus my son had one of the five worst cases of colic I've ever heard of, and I've heard ...more
This book has been SO WONDERFUL!!!!!!! If your child is spirited, READ IT!!!
I'm so grateful for the tools and mindset that this book gave me. I felt punished every day for over a year. "Why did I have to get this child? I don't want this one. Take him back, please!" I also had terrible postpartum depression at the time, which made everything worse than it already was, plus my son had one of the five worst cases of colic I've ever heard of, and I've heard ...more
Mar 01, 2019
Kristiana
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
non-fiction,
psychology
This book really helps me see my kids differently and through a less harsh lens. It gives me more empathy for other parents too, kids aren’t textbook and there is no perfect guide, we’re all going to parent our kids the best we can for everyone’s temperament. In this book I found a book that explains my kids to me and I am really encouraged by it. It has sparked good conversations with me and my husband and our family, it’s helping me speak more positively to and about my children.
Overall pretty good, fairly helpful. Loved the part where it talks about how those traits that make your child a little difficult at times are going to make them be very successful adults one day. It was a great reminder to carry on in patience and help them turn their weaknesses into strengths.
Great advice
I will be referring back to this one a lot. Lots of really useful examples, that can applied in every day life.
I will be referring back to this one a lot. Lots of really useful examples, that can applied in every day life.
I'm not alone! There are other sensitive children out there with parents who are struggling like I am. This book gave me some good ideas about how to approach situations with my son.
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A guidebook to my oldest child. Wish I had known about this book sooner. Gives more how-to advice and practical applications than The Highly Sensitive Child, which while reassuring about temperament seemed to fall short in the advice department.
The only parenting book you'll ever need. :)
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Honestly one of the most practical and encouraging parenting books I’ve read
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Readers also enjoyed
Mary Sheedy Kurcinka is a best-selling author and internationally recognized lecturer and parent educator. Her books Raising Your Spirited Child, Raising Your Spirited Child Workbook; Kids, Parents, and Power Struggles; and Sleepless in America: Is Your Child Misbehaving or Missing Sleep have been translated into ten languages.
As director of parentchildhelp.com, Mary provides training nationally ...more
As director of parentchildhelp.com, Mary provides training nationally ...more
Articles featuring this book
"Trust yourself. You know more than you think you do." -Benjamin Spock
Calling all parents who have ever found themselves wondering:...
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“Love your spirited child for who she is. Because she is more, she will make you more.”
—
6 likes
“It almost seems un-American, at times, to have kids who are slow to warm up. Other people tell us to push them—to force them to jump in—and they reprimand us for babying them. When your child adapts slowly, remind yourself that you will appreciate it when he is an adolescent. While all the other kids are running off on some ridiculous impulsive venture, yours will be thinking, moving slowly and cautiously. There are strengths to every temperamental characteristic.”
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