Optimistic Child

by Martin E.P. Seligman

Book Overview

New York Times bestselling author Martin E. P. Seligman's The Optimistic Child is the first major work to provide an effective program for preventing depression in childhood -- and probably later in life (Aaron T. Beck, author of Love is Never Enough).

The epidemic of depression in America strikes 30% of all children. Now Martin E. P. Seligman, the bestselling author of Learned Optimism, and his colleagues offer parents and educators a program...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0618918094
• ISBN13: 9780618918096
• Release Date: September 2007
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.78 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.5" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Very helpful for any parent

I got this book on a bit of a bad parenting day and really, really like it. I'm not really sure which of my kids fit in the "spirited" category but I don't think it really matters, because the information is really interesting and applicable to all family relationships. And, I like how the author talks about not trying to change your kids and how they are, but how to help them learn coping skills to adapt how they are to how the world is and the situations they will encounter (e.g. daughter freaking out in every new situation). The author's tone is so collaborative and "we can do it" as opposed to many parenting books that feel very preachy and "you need to do X and Y". I'm about 1/3 of the way through it and have dog-eared about 40 pages. :)

Excellent book

I had read this author's book "Learned Optimism" which was oriented to adults. The Optimistic Child gives an emphasis to the parent-child relationship instead which is a great addition to his prior work. I found it a little more technical in its writing than the adult version, but not too difficult to read. I highly recommend it for parents trying to help their children to be positive and optimistic in life.

Optimism-an Emotional Intelligence Competency That Works

I'm an Emotional Intelligence coach. I work with adults teaching them EQ competencies, including optimism, and I've seen it work wonders! Since reading this book, I've been teaching it to children with the same results. It's particularly important in children with high IQs. Their propensity to perceive more deeply, and their perfectionism made them set-up for depression. They can get into trouble with their thinking (can't we all!). Seligman's theory works, if you take the time to understand it and follow his instructions. The essence of optimism is not the upward cycle, but being able to avoid the downward spiral when a disappointment, loss or failure occurs. It's a way of thinking that can be changed. Would you like to live 19% longer, enjoy better health, be more likely to fulfill your potential ... all this backed by Seligman's years of research ... and wouldn't you want this for your child?

Great parenting book!

Seligman did it again! In this book, the author first explains what optimism really is and what is not. It is not perceiving a glass as half full instead of half empty and it is not an attitude of "Every day things get better and better", it is instead a matter of cricitally evaluating one's look at the world. It consists of questioning basic assumptions, looking for evidence for and against beliefs, looking for alternatives and thus reaching a more accurate view of things.Seligman's advice is firmly rooted in sound research findings, both about his teaching children the art of optimism and also about the proven beneficial effects of cognitive therapy.Though I agree with one reviewer that optimism is not always beneficial (especially if it is a kind of super-optimism), the research findings of Seligman and also of other therapists (e.g. Wilde) strongly point to the fact that using the principles given in this book will surely buffer your child against the inevitable setbacks of life.One of the best parenting books! As a supplement I also heartily recommend the book from John Gottman: "The heart of parenting"

Excellent Resource!

This book gave a lot of insite into optimism and signs of childhood depression. It was a valuable tool during my Master's internship. The school counselor I worked with had concerns about a child and the book offered us some strategies to try that were helpful. The inventories were helpful in looking at the child's emotional state. I feel that if any parent had reservations over the emotional state of their child, this would be a beneficial resource.