Home › Family & Relationships › The Manipulative Child: How to Regain Control and Raise Resilient, Resourceful, and Independent Kids

The Manipulative Child: How to Regain Control and Raise Resilient, Resourceful, and Independent Kids

by Ernest W. Swihart

A parenting framework for setting limits without guilt

Regular price $17.20 USD
Regular price $26.88 USD Sale price $17.20 USD
Save 36%

Paperback New English

Delivery to your door
In stock·Dispatches in 1–2 business days
Standard shipping* from $4.35
Standard shipping transit* 5–8 business days after dispatch

Faster options are available.

Rates and delivery estimates depend on your destination and item quantity. Estimates are informational only; the final shipping method and rate are selected at checkout.

Secure checkout
American Express Apple Pay DiscoverGoogle Pay Mastercard PayPalVisa
30-day eligible returns Returns & refunds policy

AlbakiReads Editorial

A parenting framework for setting limits without guilt

Ernest W. Swihart and coauthor Stephen Cotter present a structured response to what they describe as manipulative behavior in children. Grounded in their clinical experience, the book argues that parental boundaries, consequences, and room for children to make mistakes can help foster competence and independence. Its guidance centers on saying no without taking responsibility for a child’s happiness, while treating children as capable of handling difficult feelings and situations. Case studies and examples are used to show how the authors’ program is applied within family life. The book’s approach is direct and prescriptive, framing resilience and self-esteem as skills strengthened through limits and real-world responsibility.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Parents seeking guidance on boundary-setting and consequences
  • Adults interested in parenting approaches centered on independence and responsibility
  • Readers who value case-study-based family guidance

Themes

Parenting boundariesChild independenceResilienceSelf-esteemFamily dynamics

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

Why do so many of our kids--raised in the most affluent nation on earth--fail to thrive and strive and enter adulthood lacking appropriate and effective coping skills? Drs. Swihart and Cotter have come up with a revolutionary theory on why our kids are having such a tough time of it today: It is because we allow our children to manipulate us, and the world around them, rather than teaching them how to respond to life and life's tough situations. The result is that manipulative behavior is directly tied to low self-esteem, which only heightens its negative impact on kids, families, and the larger communities we live in. The good news is that Drs. Swihart and Cotter have created a radical and clinically proven program for breaking manipulative behavior and getting our kids back on track. The program teaches parents to say no without feeling guilt; to resist the urge to feel responsible for their child's happiness; to view their children as emotionally competent and resilient; and most importantly, to realize that effective parenting means allowing your child to make mistakes and develop a sense of competence, which leads to enhanced self-esteem and an ability to live independently and successfully in the real world.


Drawing on their twenty-five years in private practice, the authors illustrate their program with examples of successful kids, as well as case studies of how parents have regained control and effectively blocked their children's manipulative behavior. The positive results will enlighten, and even astound you, and give you the tools needed to become a better parent.
Shipping & returnsShipping options, delivery timing, and our return policy.

In-stock items normally dispatch within 1–2 business days. The ZIP-code estimator on this page is informational only; the final shipping method, price, and availability are confirmed at checkout for your full order.

For the initial delivery estimate we use these transit windows after dispatch: Standard 5–8 business days, Expedited 2–4 business days, and Priority 1–2 business days. Holiday delays are not included.

Eligible items can be returned within 30 days in accordance with our return policy.

Customer reviews