The Resilience Revolution - Discovering Strengths in Challenging Kids

The Resilience Revolution: Discovering Strengths in Challenging Kids focuses on giving at-risk youth the most important factor in their success: a positive adult connection. This positive connection helps youth build resilience, the ability to preserve through and recover from adversity.

Larry Brendtro and Scott Larson use scientific research on resilience to reframe challenging behavior as pain-based behavior. The authors carefully describe practical strategies adults can use to help young people overcome their pain and develop resilience through:

> Building trust to meet the fundamental human need to belong
> Identifying innate talents and nurturing problem-solving skills
> Redefining "responsibility" to empower youth
> Instilling a sense of purpose and generosity toward others

With support from adults who believe in their possibilities, youth can experience positive relationships, discover hidden talents, solve problems creatively, and find a fulfillinf purpose for their lives.

Chapters include:

1. Kids in Pain
2. The Road to Resilience
3. Building Trust
4. Nurturing Talent
5. Promoting Power
6. Instilling Purpose

This book ties closely to Howard Garder's work on nine mutliple intelligences. They say in their book, "Everyone is smart in all nine ways to some degree. But you may be stronger in one or more of them. Knowing where you are strongest can help you understand yourself better and learn better. Knowing where you are not as strong can show you areas to work on. As you learn and grow, you will become stronger in each area. One way to be smart is NOT better than another, just different!" (p.140)

To get a sense of this book, check out Brendtro and Larson's article on The Resilience Code: Finding Greatness in Youth.

This new book from Brendtro and Larson comes highly recommended!

Steve