TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction PART I: AN UP-CLOSE LOOK AT PARENTS AND CHILDREN Chapter One: DEBATING WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR CHILDREN Chapter Two: FROM BENIGN TO ABUSIVE PART II: A SEVEN- STEP PROGRAM FOR ENCOURAGING AND PROTECTING HIGH-ACHIEVING CHILDREN Step 1: Define and Evaluate 'Talent' Why Evaluate Talent?; Six Points of Talent Evaluation; Advice from the Experts Step 2: Selecting Classes, Schools, and Camps that Cater to High-Achieving Children Evaluate Four Motives for Special Training: 1) Improvement of Skill, 2) Supportive Environment, 3) Elite Exposure, 4) Resume Building; and Advice From the Experts Step 3: Beware Abusive Instructors Avoiding the Win-At-Any-Cost Instructor; The Burden of Star Makers; Understanding The Verbal Batterer; The Danger of the Parent Substitute; Beware the Sexual Abuser; Advice from the Experts Step 4: Weigh the Cost of Sacrifice Childhood Sacrifices; Parental Sacrifices; Sibling Sacrifices; Advice from the Experts Step 5: Look Beyond the Talent Into the Future Look Beyond the Talent; Look Where You're Going; Beware the Downside of Competition; Watch Those Social Skills; Minimize Chronic Stress; Nurture Your Parent/Child Relationship; Advice from the Experts Step 6: Beware the Red Flags of Achievement by Proxy Distortion Burnout; Over-training; Depression; Psychological Pain and Illness; Eating Disorders; Substance Abuse; Answering a Cry For Help Step 7: Take a Good Look at your Parenting Style Autocratic Controller; Narcissistic and Needy; Financially Hungry; Overly Competitive; Frustrated Wanna-Be or Has-Been; Living in Denial; Untangling the Roots of ABPD; Encourage and Support Epilogue Chapter Notes
