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Sparks: How Parents Can Ignite the Hidden Strengths of Teenagers [Hardcover]

Peter L. Benson (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
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Customers buy this book with The Path to Purpose: How Young People Find Their Calling in Life by William Damon$13.67 

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

In this practical book, Dr. Peter Benson, a leading authority on childhood and adolescence, describes a simple yet powerful plan for awakening the spark that lives inside each and every young person. Sparks—when illuminated and nurtured—give young people joy, energy, and direction. They have the power to change a young person’s life from one of “surviving” to “thriving.” Grounded in new research with thousands of teenagers and parents, Sparks offers a step-by-step approach to helping teenagers discover their unique gifts, and works for all families, no matter their economic status, parenting situation, or ethnic background.

From the Inside Flap

The greatest gift parents can give their children is to help them discover their purpose and passion.

In this practical book, Dr. Peter Benson, a leading authority on childhood and adolescence, describes a simple yet powerful plan for awakening the spark that lives inside each and every young person. Sparks—when illuminated and nurtured—give young people joy, energy, and direction. They have the power to change a young person's life from one of "surviving" to "thriving."

Grounded in new research with thousands of teenagers and parents, Sparks offers a step-by-step approach to helping teenagers discover their unique gifts, and works for all families, no matter their economic status, parenting situation, or ethnic background. The simple steps are:

  • Recognize the Power of Sparks

  • Know Your Own Teenager

  • Help Discover and Reveal Your Teen's Sparks

  • Be the Captain of Your Teen's Spark Team

  • Keep Your Teen's Spark Lit

Young people who identify their sparks and get support in developing them from caring adults have higher grades in school and are more likely to be

  • Socially competent

  • Physically healthy

  • Volunteers to help other people

  • Good stewards of the earth and its resources

  • Possessed of a sense of purpose

Isn't this what we all want for our teenagers?

Help your teen find his or her spark. Your role is crucial, and this book will give you everything you require to be the "spark champion" your child needs.

Young people who identify their sparks and get support in developing them from caring adults have higher grades in school and are more likely to be

  • Socially competent

  • Physically healthy

  • Volunteers to help other people

  • Good stewards of the earth and its resources

  • Possessed of a sense of purpose

  • Isn't this what we all want for our teenagers?

Help your teen find his or her spark. Your role is crucial, and this book will give you everything you require to be the "spark champion" your child needs.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 256 pages
  • Publisher: Jossey-Bass (October 6, 2008)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0470294043
  • ISBN-13: 978-0470294048
  • Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #129,084 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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More About the Author

Peter L. Benson
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› Visit Amazon's Peter L. Benson Page
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Surprise Me!
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Inside This Book (learn more)
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
developmental assets, thriving youth, spark champions, spark journey, spark team, spark path, spark lit, own spark
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Keep Your Teen's Spark Lit, Step Three, Step Five, Hopeful Future, Step Four, Step Two, Search Institute, Step One, Know Your Own Teenager, Recognize the Power of Sparks, United States, Thriving Nation, Union City, New York
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Customer Reviews

6 Reviews
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4.2 out of 5 stars (6 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Quality Research and Writing, November 2, 2008
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This review is from: Sparks: How Parents Can Ignite the Hidden Strengths of Teenagers (Hardcover)
Peter L. Benson wrote a well researched, insightful book for parents on how to support their children's personal development. I would recommend it to any parents, grandparents or those working regularily with youth.

The book's biggest fault was mainly several obvious typos.
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5.0 out of 5 stars A guide for parents to finding those hidden talents of their teenagers, April 11, 2009
By Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Sparks: How Parents Can Ignite the Hidden Strengths of Teenagers (Hardcover)
The teenage years are when one can get talents that can make them who they are for the rest of their lives. "Sparks: How Parents Can Help Ignite the Hidden Strengths of Teenagers" is a guide for parents to finding those hidden talents of their teenagers and encouraging them to feed that gift to prepare their teenager for the future. A good talent, be it artistic, practical, or anything else, can mean a lot in today's world, and feeding that as a teen means it can be enhanced in high school and college. "Sparks" is a must for parents of teenagers who see something in them but don't know how to bring it out.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Advice that is old but that cannot be heard enough, February 22, 2009
By Charles Ashbacher "(cashbacher@yahoo.com)" (Marion, Iowa United States(cashbacher@yahoo.com)) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   
This review is from: Sparks: How Parents Can Ignite the Hidden Strengths of Teenagers (Hardcover)
The advice here is accurate, but hardly original in the modern era. Fundamentally, there are two main tracks to the advice and the first can be stated as "To create a solid adult citizen, find something that your teenager is passionate about and do everything you can to encourage it." This is advice that can be found in many places and in many forms in the last two hundred years, For centuries, doing what you wanted to do was restricted to the moneyed and royal classes, it was only after the Industrial Revolution that it could be applied to the masses. In the modern world of immediate action and immediate gratification and with so many options for young people, it is difficult to keep them focused on a track that will lead them to success.
The second track is about adults being involved in the lives of teenagers, even when it may not appear that the teen is paying attention. The adult does not have to be a driving force, at times the best position is to be riding alongside and talking. With so much going on in their lives and so much potential for good or ill, just being there is the key point of value.
Therefore, while the advice in this book is not new, it is still the most valuable advice to receive regarding the parenting of teenagers. Parental interest and engagement and allowing them to become involved in their passions are the two strongest forces that will move teenagers away from the bad and dangerous and into the positive.


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4.0 out of 5 stars Common Sense, Positive Approach for Encouraging and Developing Teens
Overview
It isn't easy being the parent of a teenager in today's society so parents need to use every tool they have to help their teenagers be happy, productive and... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Jenners

4.0 out of 5 stars "How to Give Your Teen a Spark--Passion"
"How to Give Your Teen a Spark--Passion"
One of the things I wish for my children is that they have passion for their career, hobbies, family, and life in general. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Readers Favorite

3.0 out of 5 stars Common sense without any guidance as to how parents need to change their world so they can make a difference in their kids world

This book was OK. I had high hopes for it when I ordered it. But when I sat down to give it a read I found myself complaining that the author only provides information that... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Marci Twain

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