Thrivers

Thrivers: The Surprising Reasons Why Some Kids Struggle and Others Shine
by Michele Borba, Ed. D.

The 7 Secrets of Self-Sufficient Thrivers, and How Any Child Can Learn Them from the bestselling author of UnSelfie offers 7 teachable traits that will safeguard our kids for the future.

All parents hope to raise joyful, well-adjusted, successful kidsso why do young people today report being less content, more stressed, deeply depressed, and ill-prepared for the rest of their lives? It doesnt have to be this way. Dr. Michele Borba has interviewed more than 500 young people from all over the world to identify what she calls the 7 signature strengths that will allow kids to roll with the punches and succeed in life. The good news: These strengths arent innate. They can be taught, and parents and educators can (and must) do so. Dr. Michele Borba offers practical, actionable ways to develop these 7 signature strengths (self-confidence, empathy, self-control, ethical thinking, problem-solving, grit, and optimism) in children from preschool through high schoolshowing how to teach kids how to cope today so they can thrive tomorrow.

We think we have to push our kids to do more, achieve more, BE more. But were modeling the wrong traitslike rule-following and cautionand research shows its NOT working. This kind of Striver mindset isnt just making kids unhappier, says Dr. Michele Borbaits actually the opposite of what it takes to thrive in the uncertain world ahead.

Thrivers are different: they flourish in our fast-paced, digital-driven, often uncertain world. Why? Through her in-depth research, Dr. Borba discovered that the difference comes down not to grades or test scores, but to seven characters traits that set Thrivers apartconfidence, empathy, self-control, integrity, curiosity, perseverance, and optimism. The even better news: these traits can be taught to children at any agein fact, parents and educations must do so.

"Thrivers shows the urgency in updating current parenting and educational practices to follow science so children will have the potential to thrive and become their personal best." -Psychology Today

"Thrivers offers both science-based information and respectful, practical, and effective tools. Full of activities and ideas to cultivate the skills and mindset kids need to thrive, Borba encourages parents to use everyday moments to respond in ways that build relational and neural connections to promote optimal development, independence, and success. More than ever, our children need us to parent in ways that promote growth and resilience in the face of adversity, and Thrivers can serve as an essential guide." -Dr. Tina Payne Bryson, New York Times bestselling co-author of The Whole-Brain Child, No-Drama Discipline, The Yes Brain, & The Power of Showing Up, and author of The Bottom Line for Baby

"Dr. Michele Borba combines her deep understanding of children with decades of research to offer the wise, practical guidance that parents urgently need today. Thrivers lays out clear, actionable, age-by-age steps for raising children of character. In doing so, this timely and important book focuses our attention where it truly belongs: on whonot whatour children will become." =Lisa Damour, PhD, author of Untangled and Under Pressure

"Michele Borba is the coach, mentor, and motivator that todays parents crave. This brilliant guidefull of heart and backed by researchredefines success and shows us how to raise happier, healthier kids who will become champions of the things that last and matter. Dr. Borba tells us that raising Thrivers may be our greatest legacy as parents, and then she offers practical, actionable steps to make this vision a reality. I feel better equipped to lead my children after reading this game-changing book, and you will too." - Kari Kampakis, author of Love Her Well: 10 Ways to Find Joy and Connection with Your Teenage Daughter

"Thrivers helps us to recognize that resilient kids are not simply born but are made. With the world in unprecedented distress, it is our job to make sure that our kids are prepared  not only with high grades or prestigious college acceptances, but with the mental toughness, moral strength, and self-awareness that times of great challenge demand. If you add one book to your parenting bookshelf this year, make it Thrivers." -Madeline Levine, Ph.D., author of The Price of Privilege, Teach Your Children Well, and Ready or Not