Reviewer and
Reader Comments

Reviewers Praise What Angry Kids Need

What Angry Kids Need: Parenting Your Angry Child Without Going Mad is a complete and comprehensive guide to assist parents with their kids' temper flare-ups and how to calm them back down while improving the parent-child bond—and teaching children better anger management skills and pointing out the line where you should seek professional help. . .A must for any parent who fears their child's tantrums may be a problem and for community library collections."

Midwest Book Review

Parents' and Professionals' Comments

More than two dozen parents and professionals, many who work with special needs children, read the What Angry Kids Need manuscript. Here's why they recommend it for expectant parents, for "normal" families and for the professionals and families dealing with extremely difficult situations:

"The most comprehensive discussion of anger in children that I have come across. The authors break down anger management into specific skills and point out how developing these skills requires repeated practice and patience. A practical and compassionate approach," wrote Julia Guttman, Ph.D., an Iowa Wesleyan College professor and parenting instructor for divorcing parents.

"An exceptionally well written usable book for emotional education that every parent needs! A valuable tool to understand, manage and appreciate the purpose of anger and the healthy expression of this valuable emotion," agreed Ann Corwin, Ph.D., a California parenting coach who also recommends What Angry Kids Need for child abuse prevention and Head Start programs.

When asked what he valued most about the book, Dallas psychologist Ken Graves pointed out, "It talks about how anger is experienced by children at different developmental stages."

Supportive and Nonjudgmental

"The tone is very supportive of parents," commented Shannon Harkins, LCSW, who runs a Massachusetts early intervention program. "It recognizes parents' limitations and the daily stressors they endure beyond parenting."

"Clear, nonjudgmental approach. It helps all of us identify ways to cope with conflict," wrote a professional at the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia. "It will be great for helping parents recognize that there are effective ways to cope with their children's anger and it will provide parents with tools to communicate their values to their children."

"Thoughtful examples of how to take care of yourself as a parent, and a sincere tone," a graduate school professor and psychologist in Maryland told us.

Effect of Parents' Anger

"Assists parents in understanding how their anger affects how their child deals with anger," wrote Jean Crawford, M.A., affiliated with the Child & Adolescent Acute Day Hospitals at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. "The book offers practical, realistic information in a conversational format."

Carol Hatch, who directs the San Joaquin Delta College Foster Care Education and Independent Living program, described What Angry Kids Need as, "An excellent resource for understanding children and parents with anger problems."

"Includes a gentle confrontation about parents dealing with their own issues," added Linda Goldman, a western Washington parenting instructor.

Said another parent: "The most powerful part of this book: helping parents understand their role and the importance of modeling good anger management."

For Foster, Adoptive, Special Needs and Kids at Risk

"I am a foster, adoptive and biological parent and I wish I had had this information years ago," emphasized Sandra Clear of Kansas.

The book's value for foster and adoptive families was also cited by Myrna McNitt of Michigan, who wrote, "A readable review of anger and how to work with children experiencing the intensity of this emotion."

Mark E. Nathanson, Ph. D., a California mental health counselor, commented on the authors' "Healthy focus on issues related to children who are angry, hostile or aggressive. The book offers hope and practical methods for addressing several issues" and he recommends it for youth at risk and their families.

"Down-to-earth, practical, and easy-to-read with easy-to-apply concepts," summarized Gina Marie Drakos of Massachusetts, who said she believed the book would be of particular value to families with special needs children.

Added California psychologist Mary Nafpaktitis: "It's useful for parents and professionals, for both normal children and children with more serious behavior/emotional problems."

Practical and Valuable

"An informative, easy read. . .The exercises are practical. They offer strategies for children and adults to use to manage their anger and there are specific ideas to manage a child's behavior," said Christina Sadoski, Ed. D., a Pennsylvania therapist.

"The emphasis on 'talk, talk, talk' to the young child not only teaches words for emotions, it helps the child develop vocabulary and speaking skills. A great book, much needed," said Jean Clarke, a Minnesota parenting instructor and author.