Keeping Your Kids Out Front Without Kicking Them From Behind: How to Nurture High-Achieving Athletes, Scholars, and Performing Artists

Introduction.

AN UP-CLOSE LOOK AT PARENTS AND CHILDREN.

Debating What is Best for Our Children.

From Benign to Abusive.

A SEVEN-STEP PROGRAM FOR ENCOURAGING AND PROTECTING HIGH-ACHIEVINGCHILDREN.

Step 1: Define and Evaluate "Talent" Why Evaluate Talent?;
Six Points of Talent Evaluation;
Advice from the Experts.

Step 2: Selecting Classes, Schools, and Camps that Cater toHigh-Achieving Children Evaluate Four Motives for Special Training:1) Improvement of Skill, 2) Supportive Environment, 3) EliteExposure, 4) Resume Building; and Advice From the Experts.

Step 3: Beware Abusive Instructors Avoiding the Win-At-Any-CostInstructor;
The Burden of Star Makers;
Understanding The Verbal Batterer;
The Danger of the Parent Substitute;
Beware the Sexual Abuser;
Advice from the Experts.

Step 4: Weigh the Cost of Sacrifice Childhood Sacrifices;
Parental Sacrifices;
Sibling Sacrifices;
Advice from the Experts.

Step 5: Look Beyond the Talent Into the Future Look Beyond theTalent;
Look Where You're Going;
Beware the Downside of Competition;
Watch Those Social Skills;
Minimize Chronic Stress;
Nurture Your Parent/Child Relationship;
Advice from the Experts.

Step 6: Beware the Red Flags of Achievement by Proxy DistortionBurnout;
Over-training;
Depression;
Psychological Pain and Illness;
Eating Disorders;
Substance Abuse;
Answering a Cry For Help.

Step 7: Take a Good Look at your Parenting Style AutocraticController;
Narcissistic and Needy;
Financially Hungry;
Overly Competitive;
Frustrated Wanna-Be or Has-Been;
Living in Denial;
Untangling the Roots of ABPD;
Encourage and Support.

Epilogue.

Chapter Notes.