Respectful Kids: The Complete Guide to Bringing Out the Best in Your Child

by Todd Cartmell, David Crowder

Dr. Todd Cartmell's biblically based techniques equip parents to help children break disrespectful habits and instead nurture respectful behaviors.

Genres: Parenting, Christian

205 pages, Paperback

First published August 22, 2006

About the author

Dr. Todd Cartmell is a popular speaker and child psychologist who received his doctorate in clinical psychology from Fuller Theological Seminary. His books include 8 Simple Tools for Raising Great Kids, Project Dad; Respectful Kids; Keep the Siblings, Lose the Rivalry; and The Parent Survival Guide. Dr. Cartmell conducts entertaining parenting workshops around the country and maintains a full-time clinical practice in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Things I want to remember from this book:
Being respectful doesn't come naturally to most kids. They have to learn it and you have to teach it.
Respectful behavior lies at the heart of successful relationships.
The term: fast listening
Flexible thoughts - mad thougts lead to angry responses, flexible thoughts lead to respectful responses.
Thinking out loud shows your child how you handle everyday challenges in a flexible way.
Ex's of flexible thoughts: It's no big deal. It won't take long. Things don't always have to go my way. I can handle it.
Problem solving is an essential tool to help your child handle life's challenges in a creative and respectful way.
Ask, "what's a good way we can handle this?"
You want your child to learn that respectful behavior always works better than disrespectful.
Look for the gold.Emphasize what you want them to do.
Disrespectful behavior works out bad, fast, every time.

[Julie Verner · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book provides very practical tools to implement for improving your child's behavior and teaching them respect. What I liked about the book most was his premise. As a Christian, he provides an approach that is both balanced and thoughtful. Many Christian parenting books emphasize achieving obedience through the use of punishment. He places obedience under a broader value for respect and places discipline under the higher priority of training. It is a very hands on book written out of his experience as a child psychologist.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great, practical parenting book. I would recommend for parents who are primarily having trouble with kids not listening and responding at all, or responding in a disrespectful way. I loved all of the suggestions and found a lot of new ideas here. Favorite chapter: The Skill of Flexible Thinking.

[Elisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has some great ideas on getting your kids to listen the first time, think BEFORE they speak and solve problems in a way that works best for everyone involved. It's been helpful and educational for me too.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I must admit that I started with some cynicism when I read the subtitle "The COMPLETE guide to bringing out the best in your children." The book had good ideas and was full of examples and I did find it helpful. But is it the COMPLETE guide? I think not.

[Melissa Starrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has some really good ideas that not only work on my rambunctious boys but also help to keep my sanity lol.