Shimi Kang, M.D., is a Harvard-trained psychiatrist, medical director for Child and Youth Mental Health for Vancouver, and clinical associate professor at the University of British Columbia. Dr. Kang has helped thousands of children, adolescents, and parents across North America, Europe, and Asia move toward positive behaviors and better mental health.
"What a wonderful contribution to the emerging evolution of
conscious parenting! An encyclopedia of research and insights to
help parents navigate their parenting journeys!"
-Dr. Shefali Tsabary, author of The Conscious Parent and
Out of Control
"The perception of today's parents as micro managers who steal all
the oxygen is often correct, and as the research trickles in, we
are seeing a generation of kids who are lacking internal control.
Award-winning physician Kang shows parents how these kids-likened
to tiger cubs-are 'increasingly dependent on external rewards to
stay motivated' and how parents are turning their cubs into the
'overworked, middle-aged.' Kang views this tiger style as 'under
parenting' that includes too much 'pushing, pulling, directing,
instructing, scheduling, and monitoring.' Seeking to right the
scales, the author shows parents how to develop skills such as
creativity, critical thinking, communication, and
collaboration-what she calls the CQ, or cognitive quotient. By
encouraging parents to model dolphins, who instruct by play,
exploration, social bonds, altruism, contribution, and family and
community values, kids will strengthen their own internal compass
and have a stronger core with a greater chance at personal success
and happiness. Combining scientific research with personal stories,
Kang has a soothing and encouraging tone that will appeal to many
readers."
-Library Journal (STARRED REVIEW)
"With insight, professional expertise and unfailing instinct, Dr.
Shimi Kang provides essential guidance in restoring sanity to 21st
Century parenting. Compassionate to parent and child, loving and
reasoned in its approach, The Self-Motivated Kid is highly
readable, emotionally nurturing and intellectually satisfying.
-Gabor Mate, M.D., co-author of Hold On To Your Kids: Why
Parents Need To Matter More Than Peers
"If you're looking for effective but practical strategies to calm
the chaos in your kids' lives, foster their internal motivation and
truly prepare them to function successfully in the adult work -
read this book! Using concrete evidence, Dr. Kang shows why "Tiger"
approaches to parenting do more harm than good. Her Dolphin
approach will have you and your kids cheering. Highly
recommended!"
-Amy McCready, Founder of PositiveParentingSolutions.com and
author of If I Have to Tell You One More Time...The
Revolutionary Program That Gets Your Kids to Listen Without
Nagging, Reminding or Yelling
"In The Self-Motivated Kid, Dr. Shimi Kang writes
insightfully of the real lives of parents, weaving science with
spirit, and embedding highly practical suggestions into every
chapter. I highly recommend this book!"
-Michael Gurian, author of The Wonder of Boys and The
Wonder of Girls
"Ready to give your kids back their childhood-the part YOU loved?
The joy? The creativity? The afternoons you still remember with
such longing? If you're driving your kid to the lessons neither of
you likes, instead of giving yourselves BOTH a chance to relax,
play or just 'waste' time, it's time to turn around the car. This
book is your U-turn to joy."
-Lenore Skenazy, author of the book and founder of the blog
Free-Range Kids
"There are talking heads, parenting 'experts,' and preachers. Dr.
Shimi Kang, however, is the real deal-physician, psychiatrist,
maternal health specialist, and a model of motherhood and healthy
partnerships. Her insights on parenting and child development are
kitchen-tested recipes. The goal for our children isn't narrow
'achievement'-it's overcoming life's challenges with a balance of
passion and grace. The Self Motivated Kid tells us why and
how."
-David R. Gastfriend, M.D., Scientific Advisor, Treatment
Research Institute, Philadelphia PA
"The Self-Motivated Kid is an excellent parenting tool to
implement in our daily life to help guide our children to be happy
and healthy. She focus on adaptability and uses fantastic resources
and examples from her own experience to solidify her case. An
excellent read through and through. The Self-Motivated Kid
is a parenting guide that every home should own."
-Working Mommy Journal
"I think this is a fantastic book to revolutionize your parenting
approach."
-Along Came Kids
"Dr. Kang gives us a lot to think about. It's a good read, with
eye-opening examples and many practical suggestions for
incorporating some of this thinking into your own life. The
Self-Motivated Kid offers a roadmap for finding a little more
balance in the way we parent, so that we can help our children
become happy, successful, independent, and self-motivated
adults."
-Daniela Duriavig, Life Over Easy
"I want you to read The Self-Motivated Kid. Unlike trendy
books, I believe that it's here for the long-run. It's not a
formula or a recipe or a how-to parent, but rather a roadmap for
helping our children achieve a lifetime of happiness and
fulfillment. And really, what more do we want as parents?"
-Mara Shapiro, Be Nice Or Leave Thanks
"This book conveys a lot of information and prompts considerable
self-reflection. I found it a very worthwhile read. In addition to
the prescriptions, there are lots of great quotations, helpful
acronyms and checklists in this book. And beyond prompting parents
to assess whether they're happy with the way they're parenting (and
if not, to make some changes), it also provides a bit of a road map
to help each of us find a little more balance in lives."
-Out and About with the GeoKs
"This book really opened my eyes to the idea that balance in
parenting is as important as balance in life. Dr Kang uses evidence
based research to make her points about the importance of being an
authoritative parent. I feel like this book has made me understand
much better the kind of parent that I want to be and I know that it
will very dog-eared from all my referencing as my son grows
up."
-Emma Finlayson, Savvy Mom
"I would be shocked if this book did not make almost any parents
take a long, hard look at themselves and their schedule and the
life they are leading and ask some very hard questions. What I can
only hope is that parents will implement the answers."
-MBA Mama Musings
"If you were to pick just one book on parenting this year, I would
recommend The Self-Motivated Kid."
-Motherless Moments
![]() |
Ask a Question About this Product More... |
![]() |