“The book throws a lifeline to parents struggling to understand a kid who seems to have given up. If you want to help children discover and enjoy their strengths, this book is a must read.” —Lisa Damour, PhD, author of The Emotional Lives of Teenagers
Bright Kids Who Couldn’t Care Less
How to Rekindle Your Child’s Motivation
by Ellen Braaten, PhD, with a foreword by Sheryl Sandberg
Advance Praise for the Book:
“A remarkable book by a remarkable woman….This book will give you hope that your child can find their way to a happy, healthy future….For anyone who cares about the next generation, this book is a gift.” —from the Foreword by Sheryl Sandberg, author of Lean In
““If you’re pulling out your hair in frustration as you watch your child not care—and not care about not caring—this book is for you. Wise, practical, savvy, and warm.”
—Edward Hallowell, MD, coauthor of ADHD 2.0
“Dr. Braaten's incredible commitment to eradicating the 'myth of lazy' shines through on every page. For our family, the book sensitively broke down issues that felt overwhelming. It provided clear, actionable steps that helped us reframe our children’s challenges and focus on their strengths and talents instead.”
—Ashley J., Coatesville, Pennsylvania
He’s so smart, but he’s no longer interested in school—or any 'offline' activities.”
“She used to love sports, but now she just mopes around.”
“My kid has turned into such a slacker!”
Over the course of her 25-year career, psychologist and learning expert Ellen Braaten has begun to notice a trend. More and more parents are coming to her because their kids couldn’t care less about anything. How do bright, motivated young children become such unmotivated older kids and teens—and what can parents do about it? In this warm and encouraging guide, Dr. Braaten explains that kids who have lost the will to do anything (other than play video games) need more than simple encouragement or the “right” school, teacher, or coach to get back on track. Instead, Dr. Braaten helps parents understand the myriad biological, emotional, cognitive, and social factors that affect motivation—and build a plan to boost their child’s confidence, incentive to learn, and engagement in life.
“My approach is to explore the issue of kids who couldn’t care less from many different vantage points. I start with helping you identity the problem—why is it that so many kids don’t seem to care about anything? I identify the factors that are essential to motivation and help you think about how these factors are important in your child’s development and life. You will gain a better understanding of your child’s unique qualities (and maybe your own too) and learn how your expectations might be getting in the way of motivation (and how you can readjust them if needed).” –Ellen Braaten, PhD
About Dr. Braaten
Ellen Braaten, PhD, is Executive Director of the Learning and Emotional Assessment Program at Massachusetts General Hospital, Associate Professor of Psychology at Harvard Medical School, and Visiting Professor at Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic. She has been affiliated with MGH and HMS since 1998. Dr. Braaten is widely recognized for her expertise in pediatric neuropsychological and psychological assessment, particularly in the areas of assessing learning disabilities and attentional disorders.
Dr. Braaten in the Press:
The Boston Globe: Love the kid you have, not the one you wish you had
Diverse Thinking Different Learning Podcast: How to Motivate Kids Who Couldn’t Care Less
The Boston Globe: Taking Care with Meredith Goldstein
CBS Boston: What Age Can I Leave My Kids Home Alone After School?
NBC Boston: Threats of Violence on Social Media
WHDH Boston: How to Ease Back-to-School Butterflies
Connect with Dr. Braaten!
Website: ellenbraatenphd.com
Instagram: @ellenbraaten
Twitter: @ellenbraaten
Facebook: @ellenbraaten
