Raising Your Spirited Child
Table of Contents
| Acknowledgments | xi |
| Greetings! | xiii |
PART ONE
UNDERSTANDING SPIRIT
| 1 | Who Is the Spirited Child? | 3 |
| 2 | A Different Point of View: Building on the Strengths | 16 |
| 3 | What Makes Kids Spirited?: Why They Do What They Do | 29 |
| 4 | Matches and Mismatches: Parents and Kids Fitting Together | 58 |
PART TWO
WORKING WITH SPIRIT
| 5 | Extrovert or Introvert: Finding the Energy to Cope | 71 |
| 6 | Intensity: Diffusing Your Child’s Strong Emotions Begins with You | 102 |
| 7 | Intensity: Teaching Your Child Self-Regulation Skills | 118 |
| 8 | Meltdowns: What to Do When Everything Falls Apart | 149 |
| 9 | Persistence: Choosing Your Battles—When to Say Yes | 178 |
| 10 | Persistence: Choosing Your Battles—Saying No | 206 |
| 11 | Sensitivity: Understanding How They Feel | 225 |
| 12 | Distractible or Perceptive: Helping Them Hear Our Directions | 241 |
| 13 | Adaptability: Making Transitions Easier | 259 |
| 14 | Regularity, Energy, First Reaction, and Mood: Understanding the “Bonus” Traits | 280 |
PART THREE
LIVING WITH SPIRIT
| 15 | Planning for Success: Predicting and Preventing the Trouble Spots | 313 |
| 16 | Bedtime and Night Waking | 335 |
| 17 | Mealtime | 365 |
| 18 | Getting Dressed | 388 |
PART FOUR
SOCIALIZING WITH SPIRIT
| 19 | Getting Along with Other Kids | 413 |
| 20 | Holiday and Vacation Hot Spots | 436 |
| 21 | Success in School | 459 |
PART FIVE
ENJOYING SPIRIT
| Epilogue: The Rose in My Garden | 487 |
| Index | 489 |







