Book Review - Kids Who Outwit Adults
By: John R. Seita/Larry K. Brendtro
Disclaimer: This book review is my opinion of
the book. If you have a different opinion of the book that is great. I know I have loved
several movies and books that other reviewers have not liked and disliked movies and books
that receive great reviews. I think we all have. If you would like to submit your own
review, I may consider posting it. Otherwise feel free to share you reviews on the Forum.
Thanks.
"Kids Who Outwit Adults" is my official introduction to "Positive Youth
Development" the jist of which is rather than trying to control children and
change their behavior you work to build a relationship with them and enlist
their expertise about themselves to develop strategies for positive change.
It also focuses on recognizing the strengths of the child and building upon
that, rather than looking at the negative behaviors and trying to change
them. In other words it is basically what I have always believed -
Care about and build relationships with the children in your care and it
will be much easier to bring about positive behaviors.
I think this is an excellent book and would be a good read for anybody
working with or caring for youth in foster care or residential placement and
everybody that might want to. It is light on technique but very heavy
on philosophy and theory and would be very helpful to build your foundation.
I wish it would have been available 11+ years ago when I became a
houseparent.
It is also very good at relaying the perspective of youth in care. The
author - John Seita spent the majority of his youth in foster and
residential care and brings first hand knowledge about the experiences of a
youth in care and the things that make a difference in their lives.
The book also includes stories and insight from many other children that
have been in placement and some of the techniques, both positive and
negative, they have used to cope with their situation.
I highly recommend it for every program director looking to develop a
program or looking for more positive things to incorporate into their
program. I also recommend it for all care providers and highly suggest
you incorporate it into the care you provide.
The book is published by Solution Tree, Bloomington, IN.
Copyright 2005. It is only available in soft cover and is 147 pages long,
though it is actually about 110 pages worth of reading.
Click here for more information about this book at
Amazon.com
I also have two other books on the same subject that I am reading:
"Reclaiming Our Prodigal Sons and Daughters" and "no disposable KIDS".
Check back for their reviews later.
Click here to see other books
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