Share <Embed>

Buy Used

$4.12

FREE Shipping on orders over $25.

Used: Good | Details

Sold by Jenson Books Inc

Fulfilled by Amazon

Turn on 1-Click ordering for this browser

186 used & new from $0.01

See All Buying Options

Have one to sell? Sell on Amazon

Flip to back Flip to front

Listen Playing... Paused You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition.
Learn more

See this image

The Optimistic Child: Proven Program to Safeguard Children from Depression & Build Lifelong Resilience Paperback – August 2, 1996

by Martin E. Seligman (Author)

87 customer reviews

See all 15 formats and editions Hide other formats and editions

Price

New from

Used from

Kindle

"Please retry"

$8.79

—

—

"Please retry"

—

"Please retry"

$10.21

Paperback, August 2, 1996

—

Audio CD, Audiobook, MP3 Audio, Unabridged

"Please retry"

$29.99

—

Despite the increased focus on self-esteem over the past three decades, depression in children has continued to grow, now affecting a quarter of all kids today. To combat this trend, Dr. Seligman began the Penn Depression Prevention Project, the first long term study aimed at 8 to 12 year olds. His findings were revolutionary, proving that children can be against depression by being taught how to challenge their pessimistic thoughts.

The Optimistic Child offers parents and teachers the tools developed in this study to teach children of all ages life skills that transform helplessness into mastery and bolster self-esteem. Learning the skills of optimism not only reduces the risk of depression but boosts school performance, improves physical health, and provides children with the self-reliance they need as they approach the teenage years and beyond. world of optimists is a bigger world, a world of more possibilities, says Seligman. Filled with practical advice and written in clear, helpful language, this book is an invaluable resource for caregivers who want to open up this world for their children.

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

Available from these sellers.

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1

This shopping feature will continue to load items. In order to navigate out of this carousel please use your heading shortcut key to navigate to the next or previous heading.

Martin E. P. Seligman

440

Paperback
$11.92
Martin E.P. Seligman

57

Paperback
$12.84
Martin E. P. Seligman

262

Paperback
$10.89
Martin E. P. Seligman

228

Paperback
$13.91
Ph.D. John Gottman

178

Paperback
$11.15
Tamar E. Chansky

38

Paperback
$10.56

Sponsored Products Related To This Item (What's this?)

Page 1 of 1 Start over

Feedback

Lisa Broesch-Weeks

50% Happier Now! New book reveals practical, research based methods that can help you achieve your special kind of "bliss." Download now!

16

Kindle Edition

$0.99
Feedback

Dr Etienne Payen

Learn the 8 stages of Depression with this Best Seller written by a Psychologist MD.

4

Kindle Edition

$4.99
Feedback

Dr. Bea M. Jaffrey

Fifty percent of couples are dissatisfied with their sex life. How do you keep the passion in a long-term relationship? You need to read this book.

4

Kindle Edition

$9.99
Feedback

Patrick King

Scientifically proven methods of becoming charming, witty, and valued among friends and strangers.

80

Kindle Edition

$3.99
Feedback

Derek Doepker

Pissed off life didn't come with an instruction manual? This book reveals how to use your unique psychological blueprint to overcome any challenge.

85

Kindle Edition

$4.99
Feedback

Paul Goleman

Creating greatness through positive thinking is great. There is, however, more to that and it is exactly what this book will enlighten you on.

18

Kindle Edition

$2.99

NO_CONTENT_IN_FEATURE

Product Details

Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: HarperPB; 1 edition (August 2, 1996)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0060977094
ISBN-13: 978-0060977092
Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (87 customer reviews)
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,230,313 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #960 in Books > Self-Help > Emotions
- #2526 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Psychology & Counseling > Child Psychology
- #13615 in Books > Parenting & Relationships > Parenting

Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

Customer Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars

5 star		74%
4 star		16%
3 star		6%
2 star		1%
1 star		3%

Write a customer review

See all 87 customer reviews

Top Customer Reviews

Maybe it's Mistitled, but it's GREAT

ByKathleen Dayon August 16, 2001

Format: Paperback

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.

11 comment 111 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Optimism-an Emotional Intelligence Competency That Works

BySusan Dunnon April 9, 2003

Format: 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?

11 comment 112 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Effective in helping middle school parents and children

ByJorge Munoz-Bustamante, LCSWon February 7, 2010

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I am a 6th grade counselor in a private school. After reading this book I used it to prepare a workshop and to help several families abandon child management systems that were highly stressful and unproductive. The workshop got very high ratings and requests for follow ups. Several families reported a significant improvement in their quality of life following interventions based on Dr. Seligman's ideas.

I believe that Dr. Seligman has good intentions when he applies this book to depression but that this emphasis limits the book's potential. It has much broader value and can help almost any family improve the middle school and teen years experience. I am looking forward to helping many more members of our community with the use of this tool.

If you are having difficulty with the 11 to 15 year old developmental process or you just simply want to look at some really good ideas this is a book for you. It is an easy read and well detailed. Enjoy!

0Comment 66 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Optimisim can be learned- one optimist's view.

ByMaureen A. Blakeon December 10, 2003

Format: Hardcover

The basic premise of this book is that optimisim is not only a tendency which some are born with, but also a learned skill that even those who are naturally pessimistic in nature can master. It is theorized that by teaching children this skill they will be better able to avoid being overcome by depression,as both children and the adults they grow into. The author is one who was an early proponent of cognitive therapy, which is a behavior modification type program for re-training the pessimistic brain of those who are depressed, and which has had remarkable, positive results. In this book those same techniques are described to parents as PREVENTATIVE life skills and habits to be developed in order to safeguard children from ever even becoming depressed. As the former spouse of a clinically depressed man who has sucessfully managed his depression through cognitive therapy, I am a believer in this process. If severly depressed people can be taught a functional optimism which effectively treats depression, then teaching these same positive functional habits of optimism in children as a prevetative measure makes alot of sense. I picked up this book in the hope of teaching our children these life skills. I was impressed by the functional "HOW TO" type exercises to use with children of all ages. This book is written in a easy to understand manner which is not overly innundated with technical jargon. Of course, my review is from the vantage point of an optimist herself who would like to believe I can help prepare my children to face life in a healthy manner through parenting. I am putting a lot of faith in the power of nurture over nature- and many will debate that. Nonetheless, having heard the depressed who has lived through the worst of depression to extol the virtue of cognitive therapy as nothing less than life saving, I think that even a pessimist would be a believer in the power of optimism once he or she learns this incredible secret-- that like most things, optimism can indeed be learned, and that it is one of the most important things one can learn to be healthy and happy. This book truly is a great tool in teaching that skill.

0Comment 40 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Just Right If Child and Parents Have Optimistic Temperaments

ByA customeron November 27, 2002

Format: Paperback

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.

0Comment 54 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Most Recent Customer Reviews

Published 15 days ago by Walter T. Davis

Sold just as described, Great!

Sold just as described, Great!

Published 26 days ago by Greg Wierzbicki

I love this book! It gives multiple ways to develop coping skills to handle depression.

Published 1 month ago by Kevin Jackson

received on time and no issues

Published 3 months ago by Staci

Purchase as gift and they were very happy to receive it.

Published 3 months ago by Anthony Carmona

I give a copy of this to every therapist I can. :-)

This is the best book ever. I read it to help my kids and ended up solving my own depression issues.

Published 6 months ago by Jane Lebak

Helpful even for those who aren't depressed

Dr. Seligman is insightful and uses a wide range of data to support his assertions. My kids don't suffer from depression, but his practical advice can be applied to everyone.

Published 7 months ago by ash

Still very relevant today and is as useful for adults as kids. Highly Recommend!

Published 8 months ago by T. Holmberg

Seligman is the best.

A fantastic read. Seligman is a genius on rearing children.

Published 8 months ago by Dr. Gary R. Sweeten

This book is a great tool. My son is younger than the recommend ...

This book is a great tool. My son is younger than the recommend age for the program, but I've been able to adapt it to start shaping his attitude toward optimism.Read more

Published 8 months ago by Ashley A.

What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?

Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life Paperback

Martin E. P. Seligman

440

$11.92
Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-being Paperback

Martin E. P. Seligman

262

$10.89
Paperback

Tamar E. Chansky

38

$10.56
Authentic Happiness: Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize Your Potential for Lasting Fulfillment Paperback

Martin E. P. Seligman

228

$13.91

Conditions of Use
Privacy Notice
Interest-Based Ads
© 1996-2016, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates