I definitely love science-based research and this book contains a lot of it. It goes into detail about anger, where it comes from and what it really means.

Angry Kids, Angry Parents: Understanding and Working with Anger in Your Family caught my attention due to some things that are going on in my personal life. As I mentioned in my July 2023 TBR post there has been some changes in my personal life. One of these changes is that my boyfriends nine year old daughter is now staying with us for the summer. His daughter has been through alot over the past year and our goal is to create a safe and secure environment for her where she can become stabilized.

All of this was floating in my mind when I came across this book on Netgalley. Honestly in some ways it seemed like it was sent right to me because I needed its insight. Using years of research and practice, psychologists Anne Hilde Vassbø Hagen and Joanne Dolhanty have come up with some compassionate strategies to help any parent whose is caring for an angry child. These strategies and everything you need to know about your child’s anger and how to manage it are within the pages of this book.

I found this book to be insightful. There were multiple times where I found myself nodding my head with understanding. Anger is not always exactly what it appears to be. Often times it is actually masking a much deeper issue. It is our responsibility as adults to try and figure out what the deeper issue is and help resolve it. This is not an easy task, it is not supposed to be easy! Adults don't have all the answers even when they think they do.

Reading this book also gave me the ability to see things through a child's eye, including my own inner child. This makes you question the responses you were given to certain situations and how you would change it if you could. The authors encourage the reader to take these internal responses and use them as motivation for how to take care of the child who is angry.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book provided by the publisher, American Psychological Association, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Angry Kids, Angry Parents" is an insightful and comprehensive guide to understanding and managing anger, both in children and adults.

The book opens with an exploration of the foundation of anger, delving into the emotional, psychological, and even physiological aspects of this complex emotion. The authors adeptly combine their knowledge of neuroscience and psychology to explain how anger can affect our thoughts, behaviors, and interactions. This basic understanding of the nature of anger is invaluable and provides a crucial backdrop for the rest of the book.

One of the strengths of "Angry Kids, Angry Parents" is the wealth of practical methods it presents for responding to a child's anger. The authors are realistic, understanding that anger is a natural response and that the aim is not to eliminate it but to manage it constructively. They provide a wide range of strategies, all of which are peaceful and non-confrontational, that parents can employ to help their children navigate their emotions.

Beyond just a peaceful parenting book, this work serves as a psychology-based guide that extends its reach to improving overall family dynamics. It doesn't shy away from tackling the cyclical nature of anger, exploring how parental anger can fuel child anger, and vice versa, making it an essential read for families struggling with anger-related issues.

Overall, "Angry Kids, Angry Parents" is a commendable guide, offering a deeper understanding of anger and practical, evidence-based tools for managing it. It's not a quick fix but a detailed roadmap that can guide parents in cultivating healthier relationships with their children and fostering more harmonious family environments.

No. Unfortunately it was a boring read. Well written. But for professionals who like dry research. The images don’t relate to the content and there are no headings to block topics. It’s like one giant run on sentence.