Raising Your Spirited Child by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka (1992, Paperback, Reprint)

Great book for parents of children who are a handful. First understanding how you and your child experience the world, then seeing personalities combined, gives you a new perspective. For instance, a mom who needs silence will react negatively to a loud child. Specific ways to deal with a child's specific needs is most helpful. If my child acts up in the store because it is huge and overwhelming, I can go to smaller stores, leave him home, help him understand and practice coping methods or perhaps confine his sensations in the shopping cart.
This book is kind and sympathetic to both child and caregiver. There is less good vs bad and more about making life work, day to day. Spirited Child also celebrates the child's immense gifts, because the child who is more complicated to manage may also be brighter, stronger, more persistent, more perceptive or more talented. I just bought this as a gift. It gives hope. This book helped when my three were little and as they grew. All are now impressive young adults who feel good about who they are.

loved the book. has lots of gret information for parents. would suggest other parents to read this book. great for support and ideas for helping parents dealing with spirited children

My son has been running through life since he was 10 months old, he’s now 6.
It has been tough at times, finding daycare was almost impossible.
He sometimes scares me to death with the things he does and climbs.
This book has been god sent. This is my 5th copy, I give them to his teachers, the summer camps and anyone else he comes in constant contact with.
He is sensitive, loving , questioning, and moving all the time, and sometimes all at the same time.
He will never do as he is told….but is that so bad?
He is strong willed with a mind of his own, again I am thankful.
This book is a fantastic tool, if not for yourself directly then for the people who will be involved in the raising of your child.
I don’t want my child broken and without the tools in this book I fear that that would have been the only option to those involved in raising him.
Most people who only see my son for a short time never get the impression that he is anything but happy. People who know us better, know that there is a lot of work that goes into keeping him within social norms.
I am a strict, loving mom, and I understood his needs right off the bat. I was lucky there where amazing people involved in my upbringing and I still remember how we worked with my behavior. My husband wasn’t so lucky, so it was ever so necessary to have this book for him to work through.
The note I send with the book;
Note to caregivers,
Please find book on the spirited child enclosed today. I understand you have been teaching children for a long time and that you know many ‘tricks’ on dealing with children. This book is not about that. This book will hold the key for you to reach my child, so that he will listen to you. I will know when and if you have read this book as I expect you’ll be calling me to tell me about the trouble he has gotten into otherwise.
I look forward to hearing from you soonest,
Diane Berube, MBA
I hope you and yours benefit from this wonder book as well as I and mine have.
Gratefully yours,
Di

I've only read half of the book so far and have discovered that what we (my husband and I) were trying a year ago to avoid the mood swings in my child were what might work long term - setting him up ahead of time for any change in his routine, trips, babysitters, etc! We stopped warning him because we didn't think it was working, but it really was!! Learning about his temperament and how he is emotionally & intellectually put together has helped us have a more neutral to happy relationship with our son. We also discovered that his parents (my husband and I) are also on the borderline between spunky and spirited - so, it's like our son had no chance! The more we read, the more we learn about each other. This is a terrific manual and support tool. Highly recommended!!

Honestly, I have not read this whole book but have really enjoyed it. I am reading another book at the same time. This has lots of "examples" or stories of another mom that dealt with her child that has sensory processing disorder/sensory integration dysfunction. Highly recommend this book!

this book is great! it made me realize that i am not alone in my day to day struggles with my 3- year- old and that my child IS normal. he's just more spirited, intense, persistant, and energetic than what is considered typical. it has great advice to offer. the best part is that i have stopped labeling my child "demanding", "high needs", and "spoiled brat!" lol! as my perception has changed, so has my overall relationship with my child. highly recommended!

This book is very informative and has explained many things my grandtwins do. It helped my to understand why we had wars about getting dressed and eating and many other things. I recommend this book to anyone that has "difficult" children because now I understand why difficult is not the correct description. I have a grandson that is persistent and extroverted and a granddaughter that is persistent and introverted, this book helped me to understand how to help them cope with their world and everyone in it. Thank you.

This is a great book! I read it with high hopes and was not disappointed. I could immediately understand how important it was for ME to help my child redirect her emotions. I realized that she needed me to understand her and help her deal with her overly exciting emotions. It worked immediately when I could redirect her to something positive when her MELTDOWN was coming. She is 2 and I can tell you that if it wasn't for this book that I would still be sitting in my house crying about what I have done wrong with my spirited child. I now go everywhere I want with her. It is great. They are so smart that they feel your stress and know you are uneasy- that is why you need to stay cool, calm, and collective...if not for yourself.. for you blssed angel.