Customer Reviews

The Childhood Roots of Adult Happiness: Five Steps to Help Kids Create and Sustain Lifelong Joy

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is an excellent book, which shows that in childhood you plant the seeds for adult happiness. It gives concrete suggestions about what to do for your children in order to improve their odds of becoming happy adults.

A few things struck me in particular: the idea of flow, that we are happiest when we are in activities that we get so wrapped up in that we forget ourselves, the concept that children need to learn how to fail, and how to cope with failure, that being bored is an opportunity, you needn't fill up every minute of your child's time, or orchestrate their play.

I'd recommend it to anyone with children, or anyone, such as teachers, that deal with children. Even an unhappy adult, might find out that they have the seeds of happiness within them, they just need some care to make them grow.

Indeed, one's happiness is best not left to chance! Dr. Hallowell, in his pioneering work with children teaches all of us as parents, educators, and professionals working with children that happiness is about feeling loved, connected, and secure in the world. Through his personal experiences and professional interactions as a child psychiatrist, Dr. Hallowell thoughtfully reminds us of the significance of playfulness, optimism, and joy in our daily lives. This enlightening book is both thought provoking and brilliant and should be read by anyone wishing to enhance happiness in the lives of children!

This is a wonderful book --- simple steps that can have a major impact on helping a child find joy and happiness. Relevant for children of all ages, this is good advice for parents, teachers and anyone who works with and loves children. Sound, practical and wise advice that emplasizes the importance of connecting with children, appreciating the simple things in life and celebrating the beauty of childhood. Adults can make a difference in a child's life.

Take time to read this book. Children are our future!!

"The Childhood Roots of Adult Happiness" is the only parenting book you'll ever need! In his usual heartwarming and uplifting style, Dr. Ned gives parents, teachers, counselors and anyone who works with kids THE five step formula for creating lifelong happiness. As a lover of biographies, I must admit, that the true adult success stories have as their foundation Dr. Ned's five key elements!! While reading this inspiring book you can't help but look back at your own childhood and smile at the things that went right and understand better why things went wrong. Furthermore, it helps one better understand the unhappy adults we interact with from time to time. Another striking impression that "Roots" delivers is that it's never too late to begin cultivating pieces of the formula one might have missed along the way. If you want to cultivate successful adults, I highly recommend this highly informative and provocative book, beautifully written by one of the leading experts in psychiatry today!

I found this book to be very good, but I recently found a book which is much better "Positive Pushing" by Dr. Jim Taylor. Both books address pretty much the same topic, but the Positive Pushing book, true to its title, is more postive. It presents a more postive way to help your child grow, and leads to a better balanced child. Positive Pushing does a very good job of pointing out what not to do, as well. Positive Pushing urges you to do more thinking about your child and what is really best for your child. The book makes sure that what you are working toward is actually positive, not just seemingly positive but ultimately harmful (or done in a harmful manner). The Childhood Roots of Adult Happiness is good, but please check out Positive Pushing. (Despite the name, pushing isn't quite accurate, it's more like positive guidance.)

The Childhood Roots of Adult Happiness addresses an important area of good parenting (how to help your kids feel and experience joy) but it is way more than another "how-to parent" guide. It makes the adult reader sit up and take notice - am I experiencing joy in MY life? It's hard to be a parent today - with all of the economic stress and global uncertainty, and it's hard to raise kids to be joyful if we are not experiencing joy ourselves. Hallowell outlines his simple yet profound steps (I won't reveal them here!) and his book became the subject of a great discussion with our teenagers. In this techno, fast-paced crazy world ALL of us need to be connecting with others and finding as much joy in our lives as possible. In Hallowell's book he shares his steps to greater happiness and his personal and professional stories with great humility and simplicity - something many famous physicians are unable to do! Very user-friendly!I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to enjoy life more!

I have read this book three times. I go back to it every once in a while to stay on track with what is truly important for my kids. I watched my nine year pitch in a baseball game for the first time this week. As he struggled, walking in three batters I thought of this book and reminded myself that failing is not only OK but is vital. An hour later as he stood up to the plate with two outs and down by one run, 11 to 10, he dug down deep into his determination and hit a ball to the fence for a double, driving in two runs and winning the game. All the words in the world I could have used would never have been as effective as living that lesson of failing and getting back up again to keep giving your best. Hallowell really nails it with this book. Just love your kid, let them fail, make sure they have unstructured play as much as possible and praise them when they truly deserve it.

This is a very easy read and GREAT book for explaining and lining out the roots to helping your children be happy within themselves and tips on how to help navigate them through life. This book is extremely helpful in explaining the reason for many of the beahaviors we see in our children but don't understand. The tools in this guide help identify particular traits and behaviors and how to steer these behaviors to a better chance for lifelong tools for creating happy kids! ...and adults! I very good book to add to your parenting library!

I purchased this book because like most parents I want my children to be happy. The author was very likeable and I liked how he told stories about his own kids in relation to the points he was trying to make. The author is a Dr. and used scientific research as the basis for his suggestions, but did not cite medical mumbo jumbo in the book. It is written in an easy to understand, conversational style. I found some practical advice in this book such as how connectedness at home and school are so important to kid's happiness. Also just helpful, useful advice on helping you to raise your kid's to their best. I am glad that I read this book and I would recommend it to others.

The book was delivered quickly and in great shape at a great price. Good information for parents and for teachers.