Strengths Based Parenting: Developing Your Children’s Innate Talents

This parenting guide from Reckmeyer (coauthor, with Tom Rath, of How Full Is Your Bucket? For Kids) extends polling company Gallup’s popular Clifton StrengthsFinder assessment system to the idea that the best parenting is individualized to the child’s personality, interests, and learning styles. Reckmeyer urges parents and educators against an emphasis on making kids well-rounded, saying instead that it’s best to let them develop the talents that come most naturally. For adults and kids 15 and over, the standard Clifton test is offered for identifying 34 different strengths, among them adaptability, self-assurance, and positivity. Kids ages 10–14 are directed to the 10-theme Youth StrengthsExplorer system, with items for parents and kids based on each theme. For children below 10, the StrengthsSpotting model directs parents to gauge their young children’s talents in a variety of settings. Testing is done via the Gallup website, with one StrengthsFinder and one Youth StrengthsExplorer code included with the book. (Additional codes can be purchased from Gallup.) Parents who have found StrengthsFinder useful for their own career or personal growth will find good value in the way this system has been tuned for children, but those not ready to bring corporate-style profiling to preteens may find it off-putting. (Feb.)