The Self-Driven Child

The Science and Sense of Giving Your Kids More Control over Their Lives

By: William Stixrud PhD, Ned Johnson

Narrated by: Kaleo Griffith

“Instead of trusting kids with choices . . . many parents insist on micromanaging everything from homework to friendships. For these parents, Stixrud and Johnson have a simple message: Stop.” —NPR

“This humane, thoughtful book turns the latest brain science into valuable practical advice for parents.” —Paul Tough, New York Times bestselling author of How Children Succeed

A few years ago, Bill Stixrud and Ned Johnson started noticing the same problem from different angles: Even high-performing kids were coming to them acutely stressed and lacking motivation. Many complained they had no control over their lives. Some stumbled in high school or hit college and unraveled. Bill is a clinical neuropsychologist who helps kids gripped by anxiety or struggling to learn. Ned is a motivational coach who runs an elite tutoring service. Together they discovered that the best antidote to stress is to give kids more of a sense of control over their lives. But this doesn't mean giving up your authority as a parent. In this groundbreaking book they reveal how you can actively help your child to sculpt a brain that is resilient, and ready to take on new challenges.

From the authors of Seven Principles for Raising a Self-Driven Child and What Do You Say, The Self-Driven Child offers a combination of cutting-edge brain science, the latest discoveries in behavioral therapy, and case studies drawn from the thousands of kids and teens Bill and Ned have helped over the years to teach you how to set your child on the real road to success. As parents, we can only drive our kids so far. At some point, they will have to take the wheel and map out their own path. But there is a lot you can do before then to help them tackle the road ahead with resilience and imagination.

Not only for parents

Interesting to hear scientific reasons of stress and motivation even before becoming a parent. Useful for couples and happy life in general.

Great Book

This book helped me as a parent to trust my children and their ability to make decisions. If you are willing to allow your children to take a bigger part take in their lives, this books is a most.

Have a child? READ THIS BOOK

We have a middle schooler and a highschooler in our home. I am a builder and my wife is a middle school teacher. We want better for our kids and have been pushing them hard to go to college. This book changed everything in our family and has made our lives a lot more manageable.

from what i learned from the book, it works.

thank you, authors. my sons and me are much happier and getting better.
esp. chapter 4 and 5 it's really the key to our family success.

a good mind opener?

it had great ideas on parenting, some would see as unconventional.
it's worth listening to.