The Bright Kid Challenge: Ending Conflict and Unlocking the Potential of Smart, Challenging Children

by Andrew Fuller

She just gets something into her mind and won't give it up.
He always has to have the last word.
She charms me right out of disciplining her.
He just won't take no for an answer.

Do you find yourself saying these things about your child? If so, you may have a bright kid challenge. Bright kids aren't bad kids - they're incredibly smart, irresistibly adorable, and ultimately admirable. But they've found a way to get what they want and will keep using it over and over, driving parents and teachers crazy!

The Bright Kid Challenge shows you how to handle and nurture smart kids who aren't bad, but have found ways to get away with doing bad things. They come in a variety of types:

The Negotiator The Competitor The Debater The Manipulator The Passive Resister The Dare Devil With these simple strategies, you can get past any conflict and see your child make the most of their incredible talents.

Genres: Parenting

224 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2008

About the author

Andrew has recently been described as an ”interesting mixture of Billy Connolly, Tim Winton and Frasier Crane” and as someone who “puts the heart back into psychology”. As a clinical psychologist, Andrew Fuller works with many schools and communities in Australia and internationally, specialising in the wellbeing of young people and their families. He is a Fellow of the Department of Psychiatry and the Department of Learning and Educational Development at the University of Melbourne.

Reviews

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some good stuff here, including a focus on relationship, but overshadowed by a tendency to frame children in negative boxes: manipulator, debater, passive resister, etc. Overall not a book I would recommend because of this flaw.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only parenting book that seemed to understand that it is not as simple as giving my 1 year old a choice between two options. (She always just looks at me and says, "No, neither!") Very helpful - a few practical tricks that have really helped, and reassurance that I'm not the only parent for which all parenting suggestions fail utterly. :)