The Challenging Child: Understanding, Raising, and Enjoying the Five “Difficult” Types of Children

In his latest book, Greenspan (psychiatry, behavioral science, and pediatrics, George Washington Univ. Medical Sch.) proposes methods for dealing with challenging children that focus on using both “nature” (the inborn temperament of the child) and “nurture” (the impact of the child’s environment). Following an opening discussion of stages of child development, Greenspan devotes subsequent chapters to each of five types of special children: the highly sensitive, the self-absorbed, the defiant, the inattentive, and the active/ aggressive. Through use of case examples, he helps parents to identify and understand problem behaviors, to develop a plan to deal with that behavior, and to find the keys to help a difficult child cope. Both those who work with difficult children and their parents and any parent seeking to enhance his or her relationship with a child will find much useful advice here.