Trauma-Proofing Your Kids: A Parents' Guide for Instilling Confidence, Joy and Resilience [Paperback]

Peter A. Levine Ph.D. (Author), Maggie Kline (Author)

Book Description

Release date: March 4, 2008

The number of anxious, depressed, hyperactive and withdrawn children is staggering—and still growing! Millions have experienced bullying, violence (real or in the media), abuse or sexual molestation. Many other kids have been traumatized from more “ordinary” ordeals such as terrifying medical procedures, accidents, loss and divorce. Trauma-Proofing Your Kids sends a lifeline to parents who wonder how they can help their worried and troubled children now. It offers simple but powerful tools to keep children safe from danger and to help them “bounce back” after feeling scared and overwhelmed. No longer will kids have to be passive prey to predators or the innocent victims of life’s circumstances.

In addition to arming parents with priceless protective strategies, best-selling authors Dr. Peter A. Levine and Maggie Kline offer an antidote to trauma and a recipe for creating resilient kids no matter what misfortune has besieged them. Trauma-Proofing Your Kids is a treasure trove of simple-to-follow “stress-busting,” boundary-setting, sensory/motor-awareness activities that counteract trauma’s effect on a child’s body, mind and spirit. Including a chapter on how to navigate the inevitable difficulties that arise during the various ages and stages of development, this ground-breaking book simplifies an often mystifying and complex subject, empowering parents to raise truly confident and joyful kids despite stressful and turbulent times.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Peter Levine and Maggie Kline have done an outstanding job of helping parents, and everyone else, to understand the different kinds of trauma children may face. I have done a lot of work in therapy around my own traumatic childhood event and was able to try out many of the easy-to-follow exercises they provide. I truly felt a relief and peacefulness that I had never felt before. I treasure this book and hope you will too.”
—Violet Oaklander, PhD, author of Windows to Our Children: A Gestalt Therapy Approach to Children and Adolescents and Hidden Treasure: A Map to the Child’s Inner Self

“If you’ve ever wondered how to help children navigate the rough and tumble vicissitudes of life, this book is a godsend.”
—Sandra Blakeslee, co-author of The Body Has a Mind of Its Own

“This book is a must for every parent, teacher, coach and scout leader. It helps us to understand the stages of childhood development and supports parents in dealing with each stage more appropriately and sensitively. It is a pioneering work, a pioneering insight and a pioneering triumph. It is visionary common sense, pure and simple.”
—From the foreword by Mira Rothenberg

“Trauma-Proofing Your Kids is an important tool to help parents and all adults deal with children that have experienced trauma. Understanding that trauma is a part of life should signal all of us to prepare ourselves for the inevitable.”
—Ron Scruggs, athletic coach, parent and grandparent

About the Author

Peter A. Levine, PhD, is the developer of “Somatic Experiencing” and founder of the Foundation for Human Enrichment. A NASA consultant, he lives in Encinitas, CA. Maggie Kline, MFT, has more than 30 years of experience as a teacher, family and child therapist, school psychologist, and parent. She lives in Long Beach, CA.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 248 pages
• Publisher: North Atlantic Books; 1 edition (March 4, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1556436998
• ISBN-13: 978-1556436994
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.7 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #25,414 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #77 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Psychology & Counseling > Child Psychology

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential Reading for Every Parent! May 3, 2008

By Sarah Chana Radcliffe

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Peter Levine has written the first book for parents on helping their child deal with shocking, traumatizing and otherwise overwhelming events. This is a book parents should read as soon as possible - so they will be prepared for when they need the information contained within its extraordinarily wise pages. You never know when your child will face a potentially traumatizing situation - you only know that life is full of them: emergency medical procedures, amusement park experiences, assault, dental procedures, death of a family member, divorce, acts of terrorism and all the rest. Trauma-Proofing Your Kids shows parents how to take care of THEMSELVES so that they can actually help their kids handle overwhelming situations without experiencing traumatic after-effects. The book is detailed and practical - a truly helpful guide for parents.
Sarah Chana Radcliffe
Author, Raise Your Kids without Raising Your Voice

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Everyone should have this book December 22, 2008

By E. Martinson

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Every parent, every teacher, every grandparent, everyone who deals with children should have a copy of this book. They should read it and apply what they learn from it. I am a trauma therapist and I have given a copy of it to everyone in my own family who has kids as well as recommending it to clients with children. It is the consummate book to help create a happier and healthier generation. Trauma will occur no matter what and if a child is taught ways to keep their nervous system regulated and running smoothly they will be less likely to develop long term trauma related illnesses. If you use this book with your kids and you become a grandparent, you can be sure that your kids raise their own resilient children. Here is a way to make the world a better place, starting at home and letting it spread.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential reading for parents, teachers, childcare workers and pediatricians May 21, 2010

By Jude Jussim

Format:Paperback

I wish I had read this book before my son was born. I can't recommend it highly enough.

By "trauma-proofing" Levine and Kline don't mean preventing broken bones, but rather preventing problems and symptoms that can arise from the inevitable traumas of normal life--ER visits, dental care, separations, accidents, seeing someone else injured, etc. By reading this book, you will be able to help your child in dealing with these, and make them more resiliant in dealing with future traumas.

Traumatic experiences initiate body processes at a very primary level--in humans just as in animals. When these processes are interrupted, it can undermine health and psychological well-being. Fortunately,if you've read this book, you will know how to give yourself and your child the kind of psychological first aid that can allow these processes to complete normally, preventing future problems and increasing their resilience.