What Kids Need to Succeed: Proven, Practical Ways to Raise Good Kids (Paperback)

by Peter L. Benson Ph.D. (Author), Judy Galbraith M.A. (Author), Pamela Espeland (Author) "We're worried about our own kids, our neighbors' kids, the students in our classrooms, the youth in our congregations, and kids in general..." (more)
Key Phrases: resistance skills, youth programming, building assets, Judy Galbraith, Search Institute, Free Spirit Publishing Inc (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
Kids who build assets and connections with home and community have more of a chance to succeed in later in life than those whose parents indulge them and try to provide the assets themselves: this is the message of a strong title encouraging parents to work with the community. Enjoy a book based not on theory, but on a nationwide study; and which presents not generalities; but 50 proven paths for success. -- Midwest Book Review --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description
Designed for parents, teachers, community and youth leaders, and teens, "What Kids Need to Succeed" is a companion book to Free Spirit Publishing's "What Teens Need to Succeed" .

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Free Spirit Publishing; Rev Upd edition (March 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1575420309
• ISBN-13: 978-1575420301
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #285,949 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Information, December 10, 1999

By A Customer

As a clinically licensed Marriage & Family Therapist who has worked in a state agency for over 26 years with hard to handle youth, and also maintained a private psychotherapy practice for over 18 years, I must say that this is a VERY GOOD book. In over 20 years of teaching a weekly 2 hour parenting class I have seen many "parenting guides" come and go, and I'm not usually impressed by most of them. Many of the books simply reinforce parents need for emotionally leveraging the child into compliance. Short term looks great, long term BIG PRICETAGS. . .(like the kids won't come home for Christmas holidays, when they are 25 years old. . .etc) I think that too many of the "guides" teach parents to be RIGHT rather than CLOSE. In contrast to that position, the information contained in "What Kids Need to Succeed" is not only VERY pertinent to interacting with youth, but provides a basic outline of what needs are important to address with children/youth to help support them toward responsible, independent adulthood. I believe that the suggestions are sound in terms of being research based and from my experience certainly do yield great results. The approach is proactive and constructive, which is very reflective of what current research indicates works best. The conceptual foundation of encouragement and empowerment is (IMHO) the ONLY way to help children/youth INTEGRATE constructive, growth enhancing principles, rather than just reacting to demanding adults who require compliance. I liked the book a lot and will be adding it to the 4 other manuals that I use in teaching parenting skills. I would guess some parents will resist this approach because it requires them to give up trying to control and dominant the child and replace it with mentoring, friendship and alliance. . . All in all I really appreciate this book and it is required reading in all my classes now.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a very inspiring book on such an important subject, February 26, 1999

By A Customer

This is one of those books that makes you keep telling yourself, I knew that. What makes it so fabulous is that it puts all those things you know are right together in a very useful format. Just looking through it renews your confidence that you can do something to make a difference to children.

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Foundation for Developing Healthy Kids, November 7, 2008

By	G. Clark "[e-mail]" (Twin Falls, Idaho) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The study that was conducted, upon which this book is based, is very revealing. The book defines 20 external and 20 internal assets that children need to succeed. Our company has developed these ideas into worksheets and used them in treatment. This book aides in better understanding these assets and how to address them. Again, not great reading but very good content.