Customer Reviews

The Pressured Child: Helping Your Child Find Success in School and Life

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

 

 

No matter how involved you are with your child, it can be impossible to truly understand what is going on inside his/her school. This book gives parents a valuable look at what our children are dealing with every day. Mr. Thompson tells individual stories from the kids' viewpoints--extremely helpful. I saw my own child in his example of a boy who is "allergic" to school....and reading about this boy was like looking into the future. If I have any complaint, it is that the author didn't discuss the option of homeschooling as a positive alternative for some children like this. For those of us without many school options (no money, living rurally), his suggestion for finding a "better fit" in other school situations, did not apply. Our "allergic" son is doing great with homeschooling now and after reading "The Pressured Child" I'm even more committed to trying to keep him at home where he can learn to love learning....not dread school. Even if you have a child who has a "school brain" (as Thompson calls it) you should read this book to see how your successful child is actually getting through his/her day. I should note this isn't an "anti-public school" book-- but more of a look inside the schools so you can understand...and decide if your school is a good fit for your particular child. Fascinating reminder for all of us who have been out of school for a long time!!

Michael Thompson has an easy writing style and salient points to make in this latest book on pressured children. In the spirit of "A Tribe Apart" (Hersch) he shadows days in the lives of students and draws some worthwhile and meaty conclusions. His background in psychology gives credibility to his analysis; his readable prose will reach a wide audience. As a middle school principal we will use this book with parents in our Book Club; working in an international school in southeast Asia a book about "pressured children" is most appropriate.

I almost purchased this book because it looked really good but found it at the library first. I am glad I did not purchase this book because I was expecting tips on how to help my kids. I did not really find this at all. It was just stories and stories and stories of kids in school.
Okay, so I get the stories and it did bring me back to my painful childhood and school memories but what are your suggestions to me to help my children be successful and confident in school and in life now?
Even the last Wisdom chapter did not give anything to really help.
Not was I expected.

As mentioned above this book is indeed a book of stories and does a lot to take you back in time to your own school years. I feel that the author never misleads us in his reasoning for writing this book however. He makes the point at the beginning that he's not out to change the school system and does not claim to have all the answers to today's troubling educational issues. His goal is to simply put us into our students/children's shoes to help us relate to their daily struggles and open the lines of communication. He gives educators advice to make school a "good fit"- like making the school environment stimulating, accepting, and nurturing and making sure that learning is relevant and meaningful. He emplores teachers to never give up- all students want to be successful.

He also shares his wisdom with parents, warning them of the dangers of pushing a goal that is unattainable (not every child is going to go to Harvard and be a doctor or a lawyer) or one not their own (parents living vicariously through their children). He tells us about the "wasted Senior year" which becomes all about college and not at all about our students/children and the amazing people they are becoming. Lastly, he discusses the importance of allowing children to fail and make mistakes. No parent wants to see his/her child in pain or upset, but if children don't learn how to accept disappointments early on, with parents there to help them through it, it will only hurt them in the long run, sometimes with devastating consequences. Overall a good, easy-to-read book on opening the lines of communication with your students/children.

Thompson's book is from an excellent point of view, not that of a parent or teacher but of a school counselor. He offers a unique insight into the student's world and how they perceive school. He is a good mediator between parents and children; he helps parents better understand all the pressures on a student. It is also interesting for teachers because they often forget what it feels like to be sitting in the desks staring at the same person for 180 days. The book is an easy read with analogies and situations that are very relatable. Although the book flows nicely the author tends to discuss a topic for too long. What he wrote in five pages he could have wrote in three. Overall, I did enjoy the book and picked up a few tips for my own students and classroom.

Michael Thompson's book is an informative read for parents and provides readers with many examples of the struggles children go through throughout their school lives. He points out the differences in all children and reminds readers of the importance of identifying with the student and allowing that child to make mistakes and learn from those mistakes. Thompson also offers his "best wisdom" and outlines five of the most important things he has learned from students. Parts of this list include a description of how students are always searching for success, that students crave a reciprocal relationship with adults and how students want to feel useful in the classroom.
Overall, this is a useful book for parents to read to gain an understanding of the development process in children and possibly identify with other struggling students.

Great for anyone who's child has not found the school experience to be everything we think it is. That would be every child .