The Seven Habits of Highly Happy Kids by: Sean Covey

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The Seven Habits of Highly Happy Kids by: Sean Covey

Summary

This is a children’s book. It aims at educating them on certain principles and values that they should possess for them to live a productive life. Even though the language used is simple, the message contained in the book is so profound that adults can learn something from it, just as I did. The seven habits are discussed in detail. They also provide a glimpse of the worth of certain character traits. The first habit commands parents to teach their children to be responsible while the next one seeks to remind parents to encourage their children to have a plan. It, therefore, specifies the rewards of strategizing in advance for any task.

It further emphasizes the importance of a plan by outlining the benefits of having early preparation for any event. Furthermore, it also highlights the importance of children handling their priorities before embarking on pleasurable activities as the third habit. Essentially, it seeks to show the advantages of being focused as opposed to yielding to peer influence. Whereas it recommends to parents to offer solutions that are beneficial to all stakeholders in a crisis as the fourth habit, it also advocates that any debater should listen to his/her opponent before speaking in the fifth.

According to the writer, it is advisable to be a good listener when issues of conflict arise because that is the only way one can tell the reasons for agitation of any aggrieved party. Consequently, it advises guardians to teach children the value of compromising as the sixth habit while the seventh is dedicated to advising them to ensure that they constantly raise the self-esteem of their own children. I found the latter to be a dominant theme throughout the book, and it is refreshing to be advised on how to handle the different attitudes of children. In fact, the systematic explanation of how to deal with egos is outlined in the book and this aids in making the book a must read for all parents.

Lesson

The book manages to instill in me the need of nurturing young people in preparation for future leadership roles that they may acquire. I found it insightful because it lays different strategies that can be employed in the quest to make children maximize their potential. In addition, I learnt that children are fragile in nature and thus need some guidance for them to build strong characters. I also became aware of the power of compromise during a confrontation as this disarms the attacker. This made me draw parallels with the different argumentative encounters I have experienced and broadened my vision on conflict resolution.

Appreciation 

I liked this book because it is written in simple and understandable language that makes it easy even for children to read. Furthermore, it contains illustrations that elaborate the topics under discussion in an interesting fashion. In addition, the level of maturity is such that even adults can read the book and learn a few tips on how to manage their children. Similarly, I enjoyed the advice provided in the text as it helps the reader to develop a principled personality without him/her feeling coerced. It does neither offer a stern rebuke of any parental care, nor does it victimize children for all the woes that befall them. Therefore, it promotes a balance between good parental skills and sufficient guidance on teenage behavior.