The Case Method Miracle: Socrates created it. Harvard Business School perfected it. We parent with it; anyone, anywhere, anytime. Kids get grit and wise judgment.

by Anne Jones

Do you want to learn how to use this revolutionary, simple tool to raise your child? The Case Method Miracle is about how to use the Harvard Business School case method with a child. As a result the child learns to make wise decisions. Any parent or caregiver can do it, anytime, anywhere. Less timeouts, yelling and screaming, or telling the child what to do. The genius in the approach is that the case method teaches the child to think for himself. The case method—as the author has defined it—is easy to do. All a parent has to do is tell their child a one-minute story about another child in a situation—with which the child can identify—where he has to make a choice. “Once there was a little boy…” The boy makes a choice. At the end the parent asks, “Was that a wise or unwise decision?” Or, “What should the little boy do?” That’s it. When the child states the wise response, the parent affirms the child with hugs and praise, “Great job, you know how to make wise decisions.” The child receives the message, “You got it.” In addition, rewarding the child with an expression of love capitalizes on his most powerful desire, to be loved.The case method miracle takes place when the child starts making mindful, wise decisions in his own life, both in situations that resemble the told case stories and in those that do not. Learning to stop and think will have a lifelong impact for a young child, and it is never too late to start. Do you want to try it?The author, Anne Jones, graduated from Harvard Business School. She is a mother and used the case method with her son, first simplifying it into its core elements. When she saw the miracle happen, she explored why it works, and wrote The Case Method Miracle to share her experience with other parents. It blends the clear thinking of a Harvard grad with the passion of a mother.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction

219 pages, Paperback

Published September 1, 2019

About the author

Anne Ylipahkala Jones grew up in Kiviniemi, Finland matriculating at the top of her class from one of the most successful educational systems in the world. The Finnish schooling is not based on testing and teacher control, but on both teachers and students taking responsibility. The Finnish school structure aims to produce independent learners, emphasizes broad knowledge, and teaches morality from a young age. Growing up in this kind of educational environment had an impact on Anne’s views on training up children.

Trying her wings in the United States, Anne ran track on a full athletic scholarship at Georgia Tech in Atlanta, Georgia, and graduated with highest honors in systems engineering. She worked in performance improvement consulting prior to receiving her MBA from Harvard Business School. Before retiring from the corporate world, Anne worked for over ten years holding progressively senior positions in finance, strategy, and organizational effectiveness with NYSE companies including Southern Company and Mirant in Atlanta. The year Anne met her husband she had deliberately left her fulltime corporate job for a part-time consulting gig to allow her time to date and perhaps meet that special man. She did.

During the early marriage years, Anne and Mark revitalized Mark’s surgery business. Anne was able to apply what she had learned in the professional world to help the family business. With a baby in her arms, Anne, ever the engineer who seeks to be deliberate about her life, sought effective ways to raise a wise son. This is how she developed the way to use the Harvard Business School case method to train children in wise decision-making.

Anne, Mark, and their youngest son, Jupiter, reside in Buckhead, a neighborhood in Atlanta, Georgia.

Reviews

[Ron Wroblewski · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE CASE METHOD MIRACLE
Very good theory for child raising. It makes the child think about what the right/wise thing to do in a situation. He/she can determine their actions before a situation comes up. The child comes to own the wise course of action - not just because he was told, but because he is convicted. A child raised this way develops strong character traits. Children love stories, not lectures. It is a softer method then just telling. The case method is an excellent way to teach - keeps the child's attention
I have used the case method many times in my careers:
1. Nursing Home Administrator’s License Exam– had a series of connected case studies. How you answered one determined what the next situation was.
2. Teaching Ethics and Medical Ethics was predominately case studies.
3. Athletes visualize – when I coached youth teams I would drill into their heads what the best thing to do in given situations. They would practice in their heads ahead of time where to throw the ball, where to position themselves on the volleyball court etc.

Quotes from the book to remember
1. It is the attitude not the aptitude which determines the altitude.
2. As Children grow older they are bombarded with choices between good and excellent, temptations to waste time, distractions, and lures to risky behaviors….I feel it is very important for my child to have inner grit and independent decision-making ability. This is what the case method miracle achieves.
3. Your child starts to realize how he is in control of his decisions and responses to life, and eventually, his own destiny.
4. Obedience is incomplete unless we do it right away, all the way, and with a good attitude. However, giving yourself and others grace is as important.

Excellent read and wonderful practical advise on a great way to raise a child.

[Kristina Aziz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not exactly groundbreaking

The idea of storytelling as a parenting tool is as old as storytelling itself. While I'm all for a bit of build-your-own-Aesop, personally I veer more towards letting kids make mistakes and living with consequences. Much like Jones' idea of 'wise and unwise' hypotheticals I present a choice: leave your favorite doll safe at the table with Mom, or take it to the playground where you are responsible for it. My daughter only lost one doll before making the better decision.

[Toshi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very simple, but I'm glad that author experimented, developed and shared her experience and ground rule. I was able to grasp the principles and became confident that we can do this in school settings.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

If nothing else, reading The Case Method Miracle: Socrates created it. Harvard Business School perfected it. We parent with it; anyone, anywhere, anytime. Kids get grit and wise judgment. by Anne Jones gives you insight into a truly strong bond of love between a mother and her son. While the method of creating scenarios for decision making, engaging the imagination of a child, and prompting the child to consider which decision leads to wisdom is a powerful approach to helping children grow in wisdom and character, I would also add that it is a relationship of love which acts as the catalyst for the “miracle” to occur. You can see from the cover picture and read in her personal anecdotes that love is the foundation of Anne’s parenting.

What I also like about this book is the generous amount of encouragement to the reader, the openness into what worked and what didn’t, the insight into her own struggles and successes, and the numerous examples of case stories. As a parent with teenagers and young adults, I am considering how this approach can help me and my wife continue to guide our children toward a life of wisdom as they get out on their own soon.

Someone once said, “Before I had children, I had three theories of parenting. Now I have three children, and no theories.” Yes, parenting can be filled with bouts of failure and confusion, but this book is like a good friend who comes alongside and says, “you can do it.” We all need someone like that.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won a copy of this book through Goodreads Giveaways.

This is a really simple method for working with young children on how to easily recognize wise vs unwise decisions. It's adaptable in terms of scenarios, language, age of child, timing, implementation, everything. Honestly, it seems so simple it's a wonder that I've never heard of it before. It's clearly written, with sample cases and instructions on how to reward. I've used a couple with my son already and it worked just as described. Is it a "miracle?" Yet to be seen, but it is one of the easiest techniques I've ever encountered for walking through difficult situations with kids.

[Melinda M · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Case Method Miracle: Socrates created it. Harvard Business School perfected it. We parent with it; anyone, anywhere, anytime. Kids get grit and wise judgment by Anne Jones talks about using story telling in helping a child learn to make better decisions. Story telling helps to engage the imagination of a child, and prompting the child to consider which decision leads to wisdom and better choices. It also tells of a bond between a mother and her son.
I received a copy thru a Goodreads Giveaway.