Dawn Huebner

In a Nutshell: An practical resource on anger management. Way more helpful than that ineffectual count-to-ten technique. Targeted at kids, but useful for everyone.

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This is the revised edition of the original interactive self-help book by the same title, first published in 2007. It retains the key elements of the original and adds in strategies for mindfulness and updated advice for today’s issues.

I didn't pick this book to learn anger management techniques for my show more children, both of whom have a temper (which is normal) but not an explosive one (thank heavens!) This book was more for me. I've struggled with my temper since my childhood and instead of being taught how to manage those emotions, I was always rebuked and told to "stop it." (Ironic, isn't it? Parents lose their temper and scold us to keep a handle on our feelings when they are doing the same thing. show less

Given my 2.67 average rating on Goodreads, you'd think I'm the one in my family who grumbles too much, but I'm actually quite the optimist compared to some of the folks to whom I'm related.

I think this book does a good job of laying out the problem of negativity, but the solutions -- based on cognitive behavioral therapy -- seem little more than, "You're feeling grumbly? Well stop that, silly."

Might work for some, definitely won't for others.

FOR REFERENCE:

Contents: Introduction to Parents show more and Caregivers -- Chapter One. Are You Getting Stuck? -- Chapter Two. What Is Negativity? -- Chapter Three. How Does Negativity Get Started? -- Chapter Four. Strength and Flexibility -- Chapter Five. Exercise #1: Jumping Hurdles -- Chapter Six. Finding a Coach -- Chapter Seven. Exercise #2: Leaving the Past Behind -- Chapter Eight. Exercise #3: Flip Your Brain -- Chapter Nine. Exercise #4: The High-Five Game -- Chapter Ten. What If Anger Gets in the Way? -- Chapter Eleven. How to Stay Positive -- Chapter Twelve. You Can Do It! show less

Jake's Review: This is a really great book to help kids like me get over their worries. The author put everything into words I could understand. She never made me feel weird about having all these worries. The ways in which she suggests that I can get rid of my worries make sense and I hope they will work (Mom's note: please, please, please let them work) I like the pictures, they are really funny and the way the author explains things makes sense. I liked the activity pages, they were fun show more and they helped me. I think this book would be very helpful to tons of kids I know -- except for Brian who has no worries. I wish there were more examples of worries and ways to help those type of worries. Like that I think there are monsters chasing me up the stairs. I also wish the book was longer and had more fun activities in it. I think sometimes the book is more for younger kids than kids my age.

Jake's Rating: 9.5/10

Mom's Review: Fantastic. Great Ideas, easy to read with language that kids will understand. Jake and I worked together on this and hopefully some of the activities will help him out. I seriously recommend this as a great starter workbook for parents who's kids have anxiety issues. Now off to find a copy of this that we can keep. This really worked for us

Mom's Rating 9.5/10 show less

Jake's Review: I know why you got me this book mom! Obvious much! Ok, Ok, lets talk about the book so I can get back to playing Wipeout on my DS. I think the author had some great suggestions on how I can deal with my problems. I liked the pictures, they were really funny to look at. I wish the book was longer and gave me more examples of ways to help me. Can I go see somebody like the Dr in the book that I can talk to (mom's note: sniff sniff) I think the book would have been better if I show more had read it when I was younger, as I think it is written for younger kids. Can I go now.

Jake's Rating: 9/10

Mom's Review: Jake's anxiety is really taking its toll on him and the rest of the family. We are at total loose ends on how to help him, so we are always on the look out for things that might be able to help him. He is currently on a waiting list to attend an anxiety group for kids with Spina Bifida (Seems that many kids that spend a lot of time in health care settings suffer from anxiety) So when I found out about this book, I knew we had to check it out. I think Jake got quite a lot out of it and hopefully he will be able to put some of the ideas into practice. The text is simple and easy to read and the illustrations are comforting to a child. I think I expected more from it, but you could definitely tell it was written by an adult and some of the ideas were a little too adult for a child to be able to simulate. Other than that it was a great conversation starter for Jake and I too discuss some of the issues he is dealing with. Since he read it, he has opened up and has been able to express his thoughts and emotions about some of the things that scare him or make him feel anxious. I would recommend this for any family dealing with kids with anxiety issues as a starting page to help them deal with their issues.

Mom's Rating: 8/10



I got our Inter-library Loan Librarian Marlene to request it from Nipissing University so that Jake and I could read it show less