The Unhappy Child: What Every Parent Needs to Know

By Kenneth N. Condrell

Book Overview

There are millions of children in this country who spend most of their days feeling more unhappy than happy, and their parents haven't a clue as to why. These chronically unhappy children may be on their way to developing a depressive disorder.In this important and completely accessible book, Dr. Kenneth N. Condrell teaches both parents and mental health professionals the ten most common, yet sometimes not-so-obvious causes of childhood unhappiness. More important, he offers practical solutions -- solutions that can help troubled children and protect them from a lifetime of unhappiness.Not only parents but school administrators, guidance and teaching personnel, pediatric office staff, and mental health professionals will greatly benefit from Dr. Condrell's 35 years of experience helping children with emotional problems.Readers will actually hear from the mouths of children what makes them unhappy. By using actual quotes from kids whom Dr. Condrell has treated, this unusually insightful book bridges the separate worlds of the growing child and parents, so mom and dad can discover the secret pain that children are so good at keeping from them.Parents are often at a loss as to how they can help a child who looks and acts unhappy most of the time or makes statements such as: "I wish I was dead.""I'm going to kill myself.""I hate myself.""Nothing ever good happens to me."This book will make parents aware of the kinds of experiences that cause children to become unhappy. With this knowledge parents can be proactive and protect their sons and daughters from entering a state of unhappiness that places them at risk for becoming depressed and possibly developing into depressed adults.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1591024196
• ISBN13: 9781591024194
• Release Date: June 2006
• Publisher: Prometheus Books
• Length: 254 Pages
• Weight: 2.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.4" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Understanding children in need

This book was very helpful in my search to better understand the needs of children. It is more of an overview on several differnt arean but has many references to books on each issue. I recommend it for any parent or adult with childern in their lives.

Checklist of Root Causes

This book is an excellent and much needed work about the many causes of unhappiness in children. Each chapter clearly identifies the topic; each chapter provides rich information including interviews with people and their children. The author even draws upon his own personal experience. He provides an excellent and valid list of reasons for childhood unhappiness including favoritism; peer pressure; illnesses, etc. The tone is one of acceptance and working to forge a solution. This is a book every parent should have. It deserves a place of honor.

Outlines the ten most common causes

Millions of kids are chronically unhappy and not only puzzle their parents, but may be headed for a chronic depression that could last all their lives. THE UNHAPPY CHILD: WHAT EVERY PARENT NEEDS TO KNOW outlines the ten most common causes of such lasting childhood unhappiness, pairing them with solution suggestions stemming from over thirty years' experience helping kids with emotional problems. Quotes from such children also provide real-world insights.