The Strength Switch

how the new science of strength-based parenting helps your child and your teen flourish
Lea Waters

‘As parents, we often obsess about fixing our children’s weaknesses and neglect the importance of developing their strengths. This book is full of concrete ideas on how to change that.’

Adam Grant, PhD, New York Times bestselling author of Originals and Give and Take

‘Practical tips for parents from the wise and wonderful Lea Waters! So many parents, including me, struggle to translate scientific research into real-world strategies. This terrific book not only helps us understand ourselves and our children better but also makes that understanding actionable!’

Angela Duckworth, PhD, New York Times bestselling author of Grit

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‘The Strength Switch gives parents hope that they can build their children’s creativity. By sharing parts of her own story of overcoming hardship, and presenting the latest science of positive psychology, Dr. Waters not only inspires parents to bring out the best in their children, but she inspires us all to be the best version of ourselves. A wise and warm book!’

Scott Barry Kaufman, co-author of Wired to Create: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Creative Mind

‘Lea Waters points to a needed shift in the way we are parenting our children and teenagers. The Strength Switch rejects the current fad that drowns children in self-esteem and replaces it with research-based practices to help parents identify and develop their children’s best qualities. Inspiring and timely.’

Robert Biswas-Diener, co-author of The Upside of Your Dark Side

‘This book will help you do something groundbreaking for your children — shift your view to see their best and help them develop their unique strengths. Follow the wisdom here and you will bring deep, lasting benefit to not only your child but yourself. Thanks to Dr. Lea Waters, strengths-based parenting has arrived!’

Ryan M. Niemiec, author of Character Strengths Interventions

‘Lea Waters’ expertise, hope, and heart shine through the pages of The Strength Switch. She deftly draws on the science of positive emotions to help readers appreciate the vital role positivity plays in moving through hard times. This book will be a game-changer for unlocking your child’s potential.’

Barbara L. Fredrickson, author of Positivity and Love 2.0

‘Waters comes off as a thoughtful parenting realist … [her] clearly presented, easily implemented ideas will make sense to parents looking to escape the corrective mind-set that can make both them and their children feel defective or broken, especially in the children’s teen years.’

Publishers Weekly

Unlock your child’s potential by helping them build their strengths.

As a strengths-based scientist for more than 20 years, Dr Lea Waters has witnessed first-hand how focusing on our children’s strengths, rather than correcting their weaknesses, can help build resilience and optimism, and offer protection from depression and anxiety.

In this game-changing book, she argues that by throwing the ‘strength switch’ parents can encourage creativity, develop their children’s self-esteem and energy, and enhance achievement — and she offers easy-to-follow steps to teach parents how.

With specific tips for interacting with your kids and your teens, The Strength Switch offers all the tools parents need to discover talents in their children, use positive emotions as a resource, build strong brains, and deal with problem behaviours and difficult emotions. This essential book will show parents how a small shift can yield enormous results.

‘As parents, we often obsess about fixing our children’s weaknesses and neglect the importance of developing their strengths. This book is full of concrete ideas on how to change that.’

Adam Grant, PhD, New York Times bestselling author of Originals and Give and Take

Angela Duckworth, PhD, New York Times bestselling author of Grit

View all reviews

Scott Barry Kaufman, co-author of Wired to Create: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Creative Mind

Robert Biswas-Diener, co-author of The Upside of Your Dark Side

Ryan M. Niemiec, author of Character Strengths Interventions

Barbara L. Fredrickson, author of Positivity and Love 2.0

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Details

Format:Paperback

Size: 234mm × 153mm

Extent:352pp

ISBN (13):9781911344346

RRP:£18.99

Pub date:10 Aug 2017

Rights Held: UK

High-res cover:Download Image

AWARDS

CATEGORIES / tags

Advice on parenting FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS / Parenting / General Child care & upbringing Child & developmental psychology Assertiveness, motivation & self-esteem PSYCHOLOGY / Developmental / Child SELF-HELP / Personal Growth / Self-Esteem

AUTHOR

Lea Waters

Professor Lea Waters is a psychology researcher at the University of Melbourne, where she has worked for over 20 years. She is the founding Director of the Centre for Positive Psychology, holds the Gerry Higgins Chair in Positive Psychology, and is a registered psychologist and a member of the Australian Psychological Society. She is recognised as a world expert on positive parenting, positive education, and positive organisations, and has affiliate research positions with Cambridge University and the University of Michigan.