Book Suggestion to Help with 7 y.o. Behavior?

My daughter and I used to read the Chicken Soup for the Kids Soul book together each night. I really think it helped her be more empathetic towards others.

I purchased this book when our daughter was in about 4th grade.. It is just a good book that can be used as a workbook.. It is very kid friendly.. It mainly covers the behavior expectations.. It will guide her through the years. She is now a junior in college and we still talk about this book and how some people should have read it a long time ago..

http://www.amazon.com/How-Rude-Teenagers-Behavior-Grossin...

Notice you can get a slightly used one for under $1.00

Also model the behaviors you want your child to follow.. If parents are thoughtful, generous and patient all of the time.. their kids will learn this. If there is a person in need and you can help, do it. If a person has gotten in trouble for something, discuss it, What should they have done, what is another choice they could have made. How would you feel if that happened to you? What if someone treated your brother/sister/grandmother.. etc.. like that? How would it make you feel? How can you make sure you are never treated like that? How can you make sure you never treat someone like that?

Make sure your home is not competitive. If someone makes a mistake do not laugh at them or make fun of them, instead just admit, you have made mistakes like that or "Oh, it is not a big deal, you did not mean to do that".. Again modeling reactions.

When there is injustice, mention it, "Gosh did you see how that car honked at the homeless lady trying to cross the street? Gosh I hope that driver is never homeless and someone does that to them."

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If my son's behavior mysteriously changed, I'd talk to him to see if there was a hidden reason. We have a good communication dynamic, so a subtle conversation to poke around and see what's under the hood to see if there was another cause would be a good idea.

Otherwise, I'd double check that I was modeling a great attitude and if there are any new changes or stresses in the house.

After that, What To Do When You Grumble Too Much by Dawn Huebner or Cheri J. Meiners has several that would be appropriate.

The simplest, most positive, and most effective parenting book I've ever read (and I have read a bunch) is How to Talk So Kids Will Listen, and Listen So Kids Will Talk, by Faber and Mazlish. You will be amazed to learn how creatively your daughter can learn to correct her own behavior and attitude, with your appreciative guidance. Amazing stuff.

When I use the principles in this book with my grandson, now almost 5, we have wonderful "teamwork" (usually this means he does his necessary tasks when I ask him politely, and I appreciate his work). Out of curiosity last weekend, I tried about 15 minutes of more "traditional" approaches to get him to clean up his room after a Halloween party – bossing, directing, and manipulating/guilting him. Boy, did that not work, for either of us. So I gently slipped back into the positive techniques we've used for years, and things went back to their happy "normal" – we became a team again.

Try this book. You and your daughter will both love where it takes you.

I'm reading Love & Logic pretty soon to help me with my 6 and 7 year olds. Looks pretty good so far.

Our favorite parenting book is the book of Proverbs. Nothing compares.
Blessings!

Pick up a copy of Raising Respectful Children

I loved "Have a New Kid by Friday" I think it was by Kevin Leman. He is very funny and has a very common sense approach.