I Can Handle it: How to Have a Confident Child [Paperback]

Susan Jeffers is attractive, articulate, artfully commanding...

Susan Jeffers, author of the world-renowned classic of personal development Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway, along with Donna Gradstein, now show parents and care-givers a very effective way of building confidence in children. They present 50 heart-warming stories showing children ages 3 to 7 "handling" many difficult situations that confront children today - such as teasing by other children...or losing a favorite toy...or fear of the dark...or upset about a parent's divorce...and much more."No matter what happens, I can handle it!" is the powerful phrase that is repeated throughout. Ultimately, as the various stories unfold, the child learns that ALL difficulties in life can be handled in a powerful and loving way. The I Can Handle It lesson is made even more effective by the excellent guide for parents that Susan presents at the beginning of the book.She demonstrates how the stories can provide a wonderful springboard for creating meaningful communication with our children.At a time when parents are often inundated with contradictory information about what we should or should not be doing, I Can Handle It provides a refreshingly easy way to engage with and empower our kids.And, as an added benefit, as we teach our children they can handle anything that comes their way, we teach ourselves as well. A wonderful lesson to learn at any age!

Susan Jeffers, Ph.D. is one of the world’s leading self-help authors. Her books and audios have sold in the millions and are available in over 100 countries and 36 languages. Donna Gradstein is an author, attorney and mother of five. She currently lives with her husband and her younger children in Santa Barbara, California

LISA

I have to sing with the other kids in our school play. I'm supposed to be a singing tree. I'm SO nervous about standing on the stage and singing in front of a lot of people. What if I forget the words? What if all my leaves fall off? But, I can handle it...

I was REALLY nervous before I went on stage. But as soon as we started singing, it was so much fun that I forgot about being nervous! My friends and I giggled when the people in the audience clapped and cheered when we had finished...even if we did forget some of the words. It was great! And only a few of my leaves fell off. Now I can't wait for the next school play. Maybe I'll get the part of the dancing duck. I know I won't be nervous the next time. Well, maybe just a little. See, I can handle it!

NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS,
I CAN HANDLE IT!

DANNY

Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and I have wet my bed. I get upset when that happens. Big kids aren't supposed to wet their beds...that's for babies. It's embarrassing that I even have to tell my Mum. But, I can handle it...

I told my Mum how embarrassed I get when I wet my bed. She said there was no reason to be embarrassed because lots of kids my age do that. Mum smiled and told me that when she was my age, she wet her bed sometimes, too. Then one day she just didn't wet her bed any more. And she promised that one day, I won't wet my bed any more either. That made me feel better. I wonder when that day will come. I hope it's VERY, VERY soon. See, I can handle it!

NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS,
I CAN HANDLE IT!

GRACE

I feel bad because my big brother, Arthur, is moving far away to go to University. I don't want him to leave. He will be gone a long, long time and maybe he will forget me. I think I will have a missing part in my heart when he leaves. But, I can handle it...

Arthur said he loves me and could NEVER forget me. He will miss me too. He promised to write me funny letters while he is away. I know what! I'll draw him lots of pictures to put on his wall so that he will think of me every day until he comes home. I'll still miss being with him, but I won't have a missing part in my heart any more. That's because I know he will always love me no matter how far away he is. See, I can handle it!

NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS,
I CAN HANDLE IT!