The Seven Principles for Raising a Self-Driven Child

“[The Seven Principles for Raising a Self-Driven Child] explains how to calmly give [kids] control over their lives and emotions instead of relying on test scores or a college acceptance letter to dictate happiness.”—The Boston Globe“For those who love the wit and wisdom of Dr. William Stixrud and Ned Johnson in The Self-Driven Child and What Do You Say? (myself included), what a gift it is to have a workbook to help us make best practices become our own practices. HIGHLY recommended!”—Tina Payne Bryson, Ph.D., New York Times bestselling co-author of The Whole-Brain Child and No-Drama Discipline, and Founder of The Center for Connection“Admittedly, I love anything William Stixrud and Ned Johnson create—their book The Self-Driven Child has been my most powerful parenting resource in recent years. The Seven Principles for Raising a Self-Driven Child takes things to a whole new (and practical) level by offering actionable, science-based tools to shift your lens so you can show up as the mentor your child needs to help them become confident, motivated, and resilient. If you want to know how to foster autonomy while staying deeply connected, this book will give you the ideas and inspiration to make it happen.”—Debbie Reber, CEO & Founder Tilt Parenting, author Differently Wired“Finally, a parenting book that doesn’t add to your anxiety—it relieves it. Through practical exercises and tools, The Seven Principles for Raising a Self-Driven Child guides you from control to connection, helping you become the parent you want to be. As someone drowning in parenting books and constant self-doubt, I found this workbook to be different. It’s not another list of ‘shoulds’—it’s a pathway to understanding how to step back, trust your children’s inherent capabilities, and nurture their independence. Stixrud and Johnson offer a refreshing approach that benefits both parent and child, turning daily power struggles into opportunities for growth. If you’re ready to trade perfectionism for peace and micromanaging for mutual respect, this workbook will show you how.”—Jeffrey Selingo, higher education expert and author of Who Gets in and Why? A Year Inside College Admissions

William Stixrud, PhD, is a clinical neuropsychologist and a faculty member at Children’s National Medical Center and George Washington University Medical School. He lectures widely on the adolescent brain, meditation, and the effects of stress, sleep deprivation, and technology overload on the brain. He has published several influential scientific articles and is on the board of the David Lynch Foundation.

Ned Johnson is the founder of PrepMatters, a tutoring service in Washington, DC, and the coauthor of Conquering the SAT: How Parents Can Help Teens Overcome the Pressure and Succeed. A sought-after speaker and teen coach for study skills, parent-teen dynamics, and anxiety management, he has had his work featured on NPR and PBS NewsHour and in U.S. News & World Report, Time, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal.