Product Details
The Optimistic Child: A Proven Program to Safeguard Children Against Depression and BuildLifelong Resilience

The Optimistic Child: A Proven Program to Safeguard Children Against Depression and BuildLifelong Resilience
By Martin E. P. Seligman

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Product Description

In The Optimistic Child, Dr. Martin E. P. Seligman offers parents, teachers, and coaches a well-validated program to prevent depression in children. In a thirty-year study, Seligman and his colleagues discovered the link between pessimism -- dwelling on the most catastrophic cause of any setback -- and depression. Seligman shows adults how to teach children the skills of optimism that can help them combat depression, achieve more on the playing field and at school, and improve their physical health.

As Seligman states in his new afterword for this edition, “Teaching children optimism is more, I realized, than just correcting pessimism . . . It is the creation of a positive strength, a sunny but solid future-mindedness that can be deployed throughout life -- not only to fight depression and to come back from failure, but also to be the foundation of success and vitality.”

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #12897 in Books
  • Published on: 2007-09-17
  • Original language: English
  • Number of items: 1
  • Binding: Paperback
  • 352 pages

Features

Editorial Reviews

Review
"The Optimistic Child could be the most significant parenting book in years." (Dallas Morning News )

"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...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 [as parents]." (Publishers Weekly )

About the Author

Martin E. P. Seligman, Ph.D., is a professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. He is the author of several books, including Learned Optimism and Authentic Happiness. He is past president of the American Psychological Association as well as the division of clinical psychology of the American Psychological Association, and former director of clinical training in psychology at the University of Pennsylvania.

Customer Reviews

Excellent book5
I had read this author's book "Learned Optimism" which was oriented to adults. The Optimistic Child gives an emphasis to the parent-child relationship instead which is a great addition to his prior work. I found it a little more technical in its writing than the adult version, but not too difficult to read. I highly recommend it for parents trying to help their children to be positive and optimistic in life.

Practical Tools and Techniques5
This is the most helpful book I have ever read for helping your children cope with anxiety and pessimism. It provides you with tools and techniques for building a solid foundation of optimism. A psychiatrist recommended this to me, and I have since recommended it to friends.

Excellent way to teach primary care pediatrician about Depression in Children5
Dr. Seligman has put much effort in the writing of this book. The materal, although aimed for parents, I found it very beneficial as a primary care pediatrician. I encounter depression among children almost daily. Dr Seligman helps me to understand the problem with great case discussion and practical strategies. Especially, the questionnaire used in his study was also included in the book and it was very useful. I enjoy reading the book and parents are please that I can offer help for them and their children.