Description

Book Synopsis

Unlock your child’s potential by helping them build their strengths.

As a strengths-based scientist for more than 20 years, Dr Lea Waters has witnessed first-hand how focusing on our children’s strengths, rather than correcting their weaknesses, can help build resilience and optimism, and offer protection from depression and anxiety.

In this game-changing book, she argues that by throwing the ‘strength switch’ parents can encourage creativity, develop their children’s self-esteem and energy, and enhance achievement — and she offers easy-to-follow steps to teach parents how.

With specific tips for interacting with your kids and your teens, The Strength Switch offers all the tools parents need to discover talents in their children, use positive emotions as a resource, build strong brains, and deal with problem behaviours and difficult emotions. This essential book will show parents how a small shift can yield enormous results.



Trade Review

‘Waters comes off as a thoughtful parenting realist … [her] clearly presented, easily implemented ideas will make sense to parents looking to escape the corrective mind-set that can make both them and their children feel defective or broken, especially in the children’s teen years.’

* Publishers Weekly *

‘As parents, we often obsess about fixing our children’s weaknesses and neglect the importance of developing their strengths. This book is full of concrete ideas on how to change that.’

-- Adam Grant, PhD, New York Times bestselling author of Originals and Give and Take

‘Practical tips for parents from the wise and wonderful Lea Waters! So many parents, including me, struggle to translate scientific research into real-world strategies. This terrific book not only helps us understand ourselves and our children better but also makes that understanding actionable!’

-- Angela Duckworth, PhD, New York Times bestselling author of Grit

The Strength Switch gives parents hope that they can build their children’s creativity. By sharing parts of her own story of overcoming hardship, and presenting the latest science of positive psychology, Dr. Waters not only inspires parents to bring out the best in their children, but she inspires us all to be the best version of ourselves. A wise and warm book!’

-- Scott Barry Kaufman, co-author of Wired to Create: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Creative Mind

‘Lea Waters points to a needed shift in the way we are parenting our children and teenagers. The Strength Switch rejects the current fad that drowns children in self-esteem and replaces it with research-based practices to help parents identify and develop their children’s best qualities. Inspiring and timely.’

-- Robert Biswas-Diener, co-author of The Upside of Your Dark Side

‘This book will help you do something groundbreaking for your children — shift your view to see their best and help them develop their unique strengths. Follow the wisdom here and you will bring deep, lasting benefit to not only your child but yourself. Thanks to Dr. Lea Waters, strengths-based parenting has arrived!’

-- Ryan M. Niemiec, author of Character Strengths Interventions

‘Lea Waters’ expertise, hope, and heart shine through the pages of The Strength Switch. She deftly draws on the science of positive emotions to help readers appreciate the vital role positivity plays in moving through hard times. This book will be a game-changer for unlocking your child’s potential.’

-- Barbara L. Fredrickson, author of Positivity and Love 2.0

The Strength Switch: how the new science of

    Product form

    £17.09

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    RRP £18.99 – you save £1.90 (10%)

    Order before 4pm today for delivery by Sat 20 Jun 2026.

    A Paperback / softback by Lea Waters

    1 in stock

      Trusted by thousands of customers. See 2,385+ Customer Reviews

      View other formats and editions of The Strength Switch: how the new science of by Lea Waters

      Publisher: Scribe Publications
      Publication Date: 10/08/2017
      ISBN13: 9781911344346, 978-1911344346
      ISBN10: 191134434X

      Description

      Book Synopsis

      Unlock your child’s potential by helping them build their strengths.

      As a strengths-based scientist for more than 20 years, Dr Lea Waters has witnessed first-hand how focusing on our children’s strengths, rather than correcting their weaknesses, can help build resilience and optimism, and offer protection from depression and anxiety.

      In this game-changing book, she argues that by throwing the ‘strength switch’ parents can encourage creativity, develop their children’s self-esteem and energy, and enhance achievement — and she offers easy-to-follow steps to teach parents how.

      With specific tips for interacting with your kids and your teens, The Strength Switch offers all the tools parents need to discover talents in their children, use positive emotions as a resource, build strong brains, and deal with problem behaviours and difficult emotions. This essential book will show parents how a small shift can yield enormous results.



      Trade Review

      ‘Waters comes off as a thoughtful parenting realist … [her] clearly presented, easily implemented ideas will make sense to parents looking to escape the corrective mind-set that can make both them and their children feel defective or broken, especially in the children’s teen years.’

      * Publishers Weekly *

      ‘As parents, we often obsess about fixing our children’s weaknesses and neglect the importance of developing their strengths. This book is full of concrete ideas on how to change that.’

      -- Adam Grant, PhD, New York Times bestselling author of Originals and Give and Take

      ‘Practical tips for parents from the wise and wonderful Lea Waters! So many parents, including me, struggle to translate scientific research into real-world strategies. This terrific book not only helps us understand ourselves and our children better but also makes that understanding actionable!’

      -- Angela Duckworth, PhD, New York Times bestselling author of Grit

      The Strength Switch gives parents hope that they can build their children’s creativity. By sharing parts of her own story of overcoming hardship, and presenting the latest science of positive psychology, Dr. Waters not only inspires parents to bring out the best in their children, but she inspires us all to be the best version of ourselves. A wise and warm book!’

      -- Scott Barry Kaufman, co-author of Wired to Create: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Creative Mind

      ‘Lea Waters points to a needed shift in the way we are parenting our children and teenagers. The Strength Switch rejects the current fad that drowns children in self-esteem and replaces it with research-based practices to help parents identify and develop their children’s best qualities. Inspiring and timely.’

      -- Robert Biswas-Diener, co-author of The Upside of Your Dark Side

      ‘This book will help you do something groundbreaking for your children — shift your view to see their best and help them develop their unique strengths. Follow the wisdom here and you will bring deep, lasting benefit to not only your child but yourself. Thanks to Dr. Lea Waters, strengths-based parenting has arrived!’

      -- Ryan M. Niemiec, author of Character Strengths Interventions

      ‘Lea Waters’ expertise, hope, and heart shine through the pages of The Strength Switch. She deftly draws on the science of positive emotions to help readers appreciate the vital role positivity plays in moving through hard times. This book will be a game-changer for unlocking your child’s potential.’

      -- Barbara L. Fredrickson, author of Positivity and Love 2.0

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