Helping Children Succeed - by Paul Tough (Paperback)

About the Book

In this follow-up to "How Children Succeed, " Tough encourages readers to think in a brand-new way about the challenges of childhood. Mining the latest research in psychology and neuroscience, he provides insights and strategies for a new approach to childhood adversity.

Book Synopsis

A NOW READ THIS PBS NewsHour and New York Times Book Review selection

From the New York Times best-selling author of How Children Succeed comes an essential handbook of successful strategies to help kids overcome issues, learn, and thrive in today's chaotic learning environments.

In How Children Succeed, Paul Tough introduced us to research showing that personal qualities like perseverance, self-control, and conscientiousness play a critical role in children's success.

Now, in Helping Children Succeed, Tough takes on a new set of pressing questions: What does growing up with economic and other stresses do to children's mental and physical development? How does adversity at home affect their success in the classroom, from preschool to high school? And what practical steps can the adults who are responsible for them take to improve their chances for a positive future?

Tough once again encourages us to think in a new way about the challenges of childhood. Mining the latest research in psychology and neuroscience, he provides us with insights and strategies for a new approach to childhood adversity, one designed to help many more children succeed.

Review Quotes

"Tough's research demonstrates that all children have the capacity for self-control, grit, and success if given the right tools to work with from birth. Informative and effective methods to help children overcome issues and thrive at home and in school."--Kirkus Reviews Tough (contributing writer, New York Times Magazine) builds on the research he outlined in his book How Children Succeed to address at great depth the ways adults can build success for children who face the greatest adversity. Contending that it is the environment that shapes children's ability to develop significant noncognitive skills such as perseverance and optimism, Tough presents research that shows success in these areas is possible for all children. Diving into studies and supporting their conclusions by defining real-life examples, Tough convincingly argues that classroom climate is what needs changed in order to shape students' experiences. While advocating for transformation to a broken system that could turn disadvantaged kids' lives around, the author also acknowledges the small things that make a difference. Tough calls upon individuals to make those small steps and shows that by looking through a different lens it is possible to see how education can be better structured for the future. VERDICT For readers concerned with finding practical ways to engage with and improve education for those children with the most to lose.--Rachel Wadham, Brigham Young Univ. Libs., Provo, UT --Library Journal

About the Author

Paul Tough's How Children Succeed spent more than a year on the New York Times bestseller lists and was translated into twenty-eight languages. He is a contributing writer for the New York Times Magazine and a regular contributor to the public radio program This American Life. He lives in Montauk, New York.