Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Start your free trial
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
The Explosive Child summary
Ross W. Greene
A New Approach for Understanding and Parenting Easily Frustrated, Chronically Inflexible Children
17 mins
Brief summary
The Explosive Child by Ross W. Greene is a guide for parents and educators who care for children with behavioral issues. It offers a compassionate and collaborative approach to identify the underlying causes of explosive behavior and create practical solutions that promote positive long-term outcomes.
Table of Contents
The Explosive Child
Summary of 6 key ideas
Audio & text in the Blinkist app
Key idea 1 of 6
A Different Perspective on an Old Problem
Think back to your child’s last outburst. What happened? How did you handle it?
You’ve probably been given a lot of advice from well-meaning therapists or self-help books. Give clearer commands and refuse to back down. Pay attention to good behavior and ignore the bad. Give rewards such as stickers or toys, and punishments like timeouts or loss of privileges.
Here’s the thing about consequences: If they were going to work, they would have by now. It’s safe to say that your kid loves rewards, and hates punishment. The first thing you’re going to have to do is change your perspective on the problem. It’s not a motivation issue.
So, what’s going on? Conventional wisdom says that children do well if they want to – hence the rewards and punishment. However, a better line of thinking is children do well if they are able to.
Your child isn’t unmotivated. No, your child is lacking certain skills – skills that a lot of children and most adults are born with or learn easily enough. These are things like problem solving, flexibility, adaptability, tolerance for frustration, and the ability to regulate emotions.
When a child is expected to do something for which they simply don’t have the skills, the results can be, well, explosive. Whether it’s having to stop playing or not having the cereal they want, these unmet expectations can be a great source of frustration for children.
So they scream. They kick. They explode.
And when the kid realizes that they’re now going to lose a reward or receive a punishment for their behavior, it only adds fuel to the fire.
Children do well if they are able to. Keep this in mind when addressing your child’s behavior. Think of these lagging skills and unmet expectations as unsolved problems that you are now going to define and deal with.
Luckily, there’s a great tool for doing just that. The “Assessment of Lagging Skills & Unsolved Problems” – ALSUP for short – is a free questionnaire and checklist available online that you can use to pinpoint why your child is behaving the way they are.
In the next section, you’ll learn how to identify these lagging skills and unsolved problems, so you can start constructively addressing your child’s difficulties.
Want to see all full key ideas from The Explosive Child?
Key ideas in The Explosive Child
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is The Explosive Child about?
The Explosive Child (2021) is a groundbreaking and scientific guide to dealing with children who react extremely to routine situations. Drawing on neuroscience and child psychology, Greene lays out a conceptual framework focused on the cause of the behavior, rather than the behavior itself. This framework can serve as a guide for frustrated parents who want to understand and address their child’s severe outbursts.
The Explosive Child Review
The Explosive Child (2005) is an insightful resource that offers parents and caregivers a fresh perspective on understanding and helping children with behavioral challenges. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- With its practical strategies and step-by-step approach, it equips readers with effective tools to defuse explosive behavior and build strong relationships.
- The book provides real-life stories and examples to help readers empathize with the struggles of children, making the information relatable and applicable.
- By focusing on the collaborative problem-solving model rather than punishment, the book challenges conventional disciplinary methods, offering a refreshing and constructive approach.
Who should read The Explosive Child?
- Frustrated parents who feel like they've tried it all
- Caregivers and teachers who are concerned by a child's violent outbursts
- Anyone looking for a fresh and compassionate perspective on children's problematic behavior
Categories with The Explosive Child
Book summaries like The Explosive Child
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
33 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
The Explosive Child FAQs
What is the main message of The Explosive Child?
The main message of The Explosive Child is understanding and helping children with behavioral challenges.
How long does it take to read The Explosive Child?
The reading time for The Explosive Child varies, but the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is The Explosive Child a good book? Is it worth reading?
The Explosive Child is worth reading as it provides valuable insights and strategies for dealing with challenging behavior in children.
Who is the author of The Explosive Child?
The author of The Explosive Child is Ross W. Greene.
What to read after The Explosive Child?
If you're wondering what to read next after The Explosive Child, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- 1-2-3 Magic by Thomas W. Phelan
- Hold on to Your Kids by Gordon Neufeld & Gabor Maté
- Parenting by Andy & Sandra Stanley
- Tiny Humans, Big Emotions by Alyssa Gloria Campbell & Lauren Stauble
- No-Drama Discipline by Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson
- Good Inside by Becky Kennedy
- Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance
- Scattered Minds by Gabor Maté
- The Whole-Brain Child by Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson
- What Your ADHD Child Wishes You Knew by Sharon Saline