The Optimistic Child: Proven Program to Safeguard Children from Depression & Build Lifelong Resilience (Paperback)

by Martin E. Seligman (Author) "I was the catcher for the Lake Luzerne Dodgers, a catcher with meager talent, a catcher in awe of Danny and Teddy..." (more)
Key Phrases: worst thing that might happen, psychological immunization, optimistic child, Hopeful Holly, Penn Prevention Program, Sherlock Holmes (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
According to noted psychologist Seligman (Learned Optimism), 30% of American children suffer from depression. Further, his studies demonstrate that "pessimistic children are at much higher risk for becoming depressed than optimistic children." His mission here is to teach parents and other concerned adults how to instill in children a sense of optimism and personal mastery. Seligman discounts prevalent theory that children who are encouraged by others to feel good about themselves will do well. Instead, he proposes that self-esteem comes from mastering challenges, overcoming frustration and experiencing individual achievement. In clear, concise prose peppered with anecdotes, dialogues, cartoons and exercises, Seligman offers a concrete plan of action based on techniques of self-evaluation and social interaction. He describes the development of the Penn Depression Prevention Program, in which school kids are taught ways to divest themselves of pessimistic approaches and adopt optimistic ones, and adapts it to home use by parents. While a few of the exercises may seem daunting to parents, this encouraging volume moves beyond popular self-help tomes and ideology to offer hope and practical suggestions; it will be of great value to teachers as well. First serial rights to Ladies' Home Journal and Parents magazine; author tour.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From The Washington Post
"Seligman's recent research profoundly demonstrates that children can be taught techniques of optimistic thinking that, in effect, 'depression-proofs' them."

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Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Harper Paperbacks; 1 edition (September 11, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060977094
• ISBN-13: 978-0060977092
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #41,054 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #43 in	Books > Parenting & Families > Parenting > Emotions & Feelings
  #85 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Psychology & Counseling > Child Psychology > Development
  #88 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Psychology & Counseling > Developmental Psychology

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Maybe it's Mistitled, but it's GREAT, August 16, 2001

By	Kathleen Day "neat0" (Springfield, MO United States) - See all my reviews

I don't disagree entirely with the one-star reviewer--optimism is hardly the answer to all of society's problems. However, as the parent of a son who often shows signs of inheriting ... depression ..., I found this book to be a proactive alternative to the little lectures on over-reacting to situations that I had been giving! I explain the steps Seligman suggests as games we play to prepare him for middle school and they get him thinking about the control he can exert in his own perceptions (this is a skill often not acquired until late adolescence, if ever). Finally, some support for at-risk kids! I only wish more parents were aware of the influence their behavior wields--this book helps both parent and child increase self-understanding. Other books on childhood depression depend too heavily on explaining available medication--THANK YOU, Mr. Seligman, for offering concrete advice on drug-free depression-prevention.

52 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Optimism-an Emotional Intelligence Competency That Works, April 9, 2003

By	Susan Dunn "The EQ Coach" (Dallas,, Tx United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Optimistic Child: How Learned Optimism Protects Children from Depression (Hardcover)

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?

36 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just Right If Child and Parents Have Optimistic Temperaments, November 27, 2002

By A Customer

Dr. Seligman's book is just right if your child and both parents are temperamentally optimists. In that case, this book is wonderful and I recommend it to you. But if the child or one or both of the parents have a more pessimism-prone personality temperament, it is advisable to add understanding of new research on the cognitive strategy called 'constructive pessimism' which deals with individual differences in the normal range of personality temperaments of optimism -- pessimism. Psychologist Ed Chang edited the new book on that, Optimism and Pessimism. So add Chang to Seligman for balance, and if you need more then look at books by Elaine Aron. That's my advice for completeness -- children and adults really do display a fascinating and sometimes challenging range of personality temperaments. And when it comes to making the most of life, No one size fits all.