Customer Reviews

The SMART Parenting Revolution: A Powerful New Approach to Unleashing Your Child's Potential

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have been a fan of Dr. Markova's positive approach for years, since I first read HOW YOUR CHILD IS SMART. Here she puts it all together to show parents exactly how to foster their child's potential. She helps you identify your child's unique talents and use their gifts to overcome the challenges they face. Whether you have a child doing faboulously in school or one who is struggling in this standaradized world, this book is an absolute necessity for every parent wanting to bring out the best in their child.

As a single mother of three young boys, one with autism, I've read a lot of books about parenting and helping children learn and succeed. This book is far and away the best source for practical, useful information to help my children succeed at school and in life. My kids enjoyed it as well because they were actually able to participate in the process and we have since embarked on an amazing journey to discover their individual thinking patterns and strengths. Dr. Markova's strategies for using a child's natural intelligence so that they can pay attention in class, tap into their creativity, and make thoughtful decisions are truly revolutionary. These insights into each child's unique way of thinking has made me a better mother and just totally changed the atmosphere of our home to focus on the positives. Another major benefit is that I now feel like I'm able to have productive, positive conversations with teachers to find solutions for my kids that aren't based on punishments or medications - happy kids, happy teachers, happy mom! Thanks Dr. Markova!

Wouldn't it be a better world if each of us could reach our full potential? Dr. Markova provides a logical and amazing approach that will allow children to thrive. Her approach early on in her teaching career proved to be an exciting journey for the children in her classroom as well as parents and herself. She demonstrates how focusing on a child's strengths and interests can unlock the gifts children (and adults) have. Understanding these strengths and interests can be used to assist a child to improve in other areas.

I particularly like the fact that she lays the foundation and philosophy in the first part of her book, and follows up with the practical approach that allows easy implementation.

Dr. Markova is on target that we've become a society that clearly sees what we did wrong. She guides us now to see what we've done right and how this approach can transcend our children and ourselves. More, please, Dr. Markova!

This book has been a godsend to my work with children and youth. Most importantly, the focus on assets versus deficits makes so much sense I can't believe it's not everywhere in the media. Its a very simple concept but its not easy to do and it is a breakthrough idea. We are so programmed to notice all the things that are wrong in our lives, our kids and our society. It seems like this simple 180 could create dramatic change in our world. The tools in this book will help everyone to communicate better with their kids, their and their family and their coworkers. I highly recommend it!

As a parent of three children two boys and a girl, I found this book a godsend! This world shapes the way we see our children and the way they see themselves. Dr. Markova's amazing book can change that image. First by helping both the parent, child and even the teachers they meet in this world begin to evaluate them on whats right with all of us, instead of whats wrong, and then exactly how to go about making that image we carry around of ourselves and the story we tell about ourselves a better story, a story of positive appreciation instead of one of doubt, fear and negative stereotypical self images. We are all unique and have a great place in this world if we just focus on what our strengths are and not let the outside forces define our weaknesses as our talents. We do not have to fit into the nice neat boxes that are constantly being set for us. We can be wonderful contributors to this world and it starts with smarter parenting! Thank you, Dr. Markova!!!

If you know a good child who is about "to spin out of orbit," you now have some practical alternatives instead of helplessly watching them waste a life.

For those inheriting the social and economic realities of 2005, this book offers parents, children, and mentors a meaningful context and a confidence-building approach to the question: How does one generation inspire and generate wisdom with the next?

Caution: requires partnership, learning, and enjoyment.

"Smart parenting revolution is about listening and guiding your child. Learning as a parent/educator that there is a diversity of ways of thinking and processing information. It helped me find practical ways to support my children and to boost their confidence in building on their successes."

Not all practices work for all people.
"Drugging" my ADD child keeps him from failing every class he takes. My son has amazing strengths, an IQ that got him Mensa membership at 14 - BUT - due to ADD, OCD, and arthritis he needs prescribed medications to have the necessary focus to 1-not lose completed major assignments, 2- remember to bring a book home before the school is locked for the night, 3- look in his English folder for his English report, instead of wondering where he put it thus getting a zero... or, to be able to utilize his strengths and reach his full potential.
For my non ADD/OCD/arthritis children - this is a great book!!!

...So, I'm a grown-up in a deficit-focused business world...full of scarcity thinking and `what's wrong' (or could go wrong) thinking. I'm also a parent of young boys in - disappointingly - a parallel universe of what's wrong with my (our) children...in the classroom or on the field. Enter Dawna Markova!!

Dawna provokes, informs, encourages and inspires with her latest work, The Smart Parenting Revolution. Raising two growing boys in a world more biased than ever to tell them what's wrong with them, Dawna strengthens my resolve -- and my skills -- to help me help them. No matter what their calling will be, I have learned simple yet powerful ways to help my boys understand how they are smart today...how to notice and build upon their strengths so that they can fulfill their potential.

This book is NOT about blind positivism...it's not the superficial crap we've sometimes seen applied in schools or in the workplace. Dr. Markova has taken her many years' work and distilled it for we overloaded parents. She shares simple concepts that I can try at home...simple stories that encourage me to keep trying...simple advice about how to take the next right step on this parenting journey.

What I love most is that I can see that I'm actually helping my kids... with schoolwork, on the soccer field or relating to one another. Thank you, Dr. Markova!!!

I had a lengthy review of this book that I posted a few months ago here for this book. Within the past few days it disappeared.

The review did say some negative things but also contained positive remarks, too. It certainly contained nothing profane or libelous. And 19 out of 39 people found the review helpful. Now it's gone, and I did not remove it

I only gave the book 2 stars though, which had made the overall collective review a star less than the full stars. Now the review has mysteriously disappeared & the overall review is now up to a full 5 stars again. Who is responsible for this?