Smart Parenting: How To Raise Happy, Can-Do Kids

Imagine if you had been coaching many of the top performing people in the world and helping them become more successful. Next, imagine that you had the chance to ask them what childhood experiences had prepared these top performers for outstanding accomplishments. Then, imagine that you applied those lessons to your own children. Finally, imagine moving forward 20 plus years in time to report on what you had learned with one of your outstanding children reporting on what it was like to receive this training. If you can imagine all that, you can imagine having just read Smart Parenting by Dr. Brad Smart and his daughter, Dr. Kate Smart Mursau. But that's not quite a fair characterization of the book . . . even though it is a great way to appreciate the authority of the message. Instead, this is a simple, straightforward book that any parent who finished the ninth grade can read, learn from and apply successfully. The style is very simple, gentle and loving. I felt like I was being put to bed again by my mother in places as I read this kind wisdom. The book's cornerstone is the SMART Decision Pad which instructs you in how to coach your children to: 1. Study the situation. 2. Make the goal clear. 3. Assess various options for achieving the goal. 4. Realize which option is best and take that route. 5. Take stock to evaluate what you learned from applying this thinking process. If all that sounds abstract, the book is filled with down-to-earth, practical examples that you and your child will be able to appreciate. This decision-making approach is critical because it is a large element of the Smart Parenting Equation that says that Resourcefulness equals Motivation times Decision Making. The Smarts are wise to focus on making the process something that's there to empower and encourage youngsters rather than just one more thing to require of your children. The book is filled with practical examples of ways to tie learning into typical childhood situations and issues. Part One of the book provides key tools, or building blocks, as the Smarts call them. In Part Two, you'll find 20 chapters that provide detailed directions for activities you can do with your child to build resourcefulness. Here are a few examples which you can appreciate from their titles: Learn Something Together; Fix Something Together; Be a Navigator; Introduce Yourself and Start a Conversation; Find Ways to Make Friends; Spot a Winner, Spot a Whiner; Look Ahead, Prevent a Problem; Learn to Budget; Stay Calm, Cool, and Collected. As I read the activities, I was struck by how many similar activities I had done with my children. Many of those activities were high points of my children's learning. As I read about activities, I hadn't done with my children, I found myself wishing that I had read this book 30 years ago. But then, there are always the grandchildren to do these things with! Do your children a big favor and read this book!

Being an engaged parent of two children (9 and 13), I've read many books on parenting. Most promote advice that sounds good in theory, but just doesn't work. Smart Parenting stands out because it focuses on raising competent kids who can think for themselves, problem-solve, and become independent at an early age. My litmus test is that I'm using what I've learned from this sensible guidebook--and I'm seeing results.

Our job as parents is to help make our children strong and self sufficient. Here's a way to do it with unconditional love, repect and dignity.

Smart Parenting is an excellent resource and guide for being a good parent. Too often parents neglect to let their kids rely on themselves for tough decisions leading them down a road of being too dependant upon others. This book is very reader friendly, easy to follow and offers suggestions that are applicable in any family situation. I highly recommend the book and refer this read to all who have and work with kids.

I only hope Dr Phil or Oprah will get ahold of this book, as it offers real-world advice about allowing your children to resolve many of their day-to-day problems that frustrate parents and make kids feel dependent and unresourceful. I think any parent will recognize some of the problems that they 'fixed' for their children, believing in good faith that they were being better parents. When I hear that parents are now asking to go on college admission interviews and even job interviews with their kids, we have gone too far. Read this book and see how the alternative can work for you and your children. Hands-off doesn't mean no help.