As technology develops at an ever frenetic pace, the ability to socialize in a practical, real-world fashion is in danger of becoming as extinct as the typewriter or paper map. Yet, unlike the aforementioned items, practical social skills are a vital element for our children’s overall success and happiness. Therefore, they must be enriched by all those that shape the future of our next generation of adults.
Concurrently, as our children are subjected to an endless deluge of information from the many streams of technology, a societal push to have them grow up to prematurely. Of further significance, is an ever flattening global influence that showers many mixed messages raining down upon our youth. As these images flash before their eyes, questions of character and developing this subset of such respective skills become ever more important.
This book will seek to tackle how to educate our children on the cornerstones of a humanistic foundation as a person; harboring those traits of responsibility, caring, honesty, and service to others. It will seek to help parents, educators, and most of all, children to recognize that in order to gain the necessary tools to be a fulfilled and contributing member of this world one must embrace these abilities (and not just as an afterthought and supplement to a successful life).
Review
"If you are going to read only one book this year then I strongly recommend you choose Brett Novick’s The Balanced Child. Brett offers a unique opportunity to learn about the ‘day-to-day’ challenges our children often face. In our fast-paced society, we as adults often forget that kids can struggle learning all the skills needed, not only to socially survive, but to flourish in reaching their full potential. This text is filled with practical social skills building scenarios useful for parents, teachers, and counselors. Each chapter covers the many facets of social/emotional development while offering the reader both clear understanding as well as concrete interventions for teaching and nurturing. "
- Kenneth McGill, licensed marriage & family therapist, president, New Jersey Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
"In the smartphone-oriented world of today, much more interaction takes place via electronic means than in person. Consequently, youngsters have less opportunity to learn and practice social skills, and many find it difficult to fit in with peers and get along with others. Novick hits the proverbial bulls-eye with a highly pragmatic guide that provides much practical advice on building social skills and extending these to improve empathy, emotional regulation, tolerance, anger management, communication, and various life skills. He has a particular talent for capturing problems and solutions with creative and relatable analogies, and his interventions are easy to follow and simple to implement. Parents, teachers, and mental health professionals are likely to find many useful and valuable suggestions about handling a wide range of problems commonly encountered in home, school and various social settings."
-- George M. Kapalka, PhD, MS, ABPP, prescribing, clinical and school psychologist; Author, Parenting Your Out-of-Control Child
