Kari Sutton - Raising a Mentally Fit Generation: Science-based tools and strategies to build resilience and wellbeing in our kids

Ask any parent what they want for their kids and theyll say something like happiness and success; but what many really mean is that they want their children to be resilient and able to cope with lifes ups and downs. In this book Kari draws on the research and presents practical advice for how parents can help their children foster and develop the crucial skills required for this; and she does it in a way thats easy to read and easy to apply.

Dr Timothy Sharp , Chief Happiness Officer The Happiness Institute

Raising a Mentally Fit Generation is a practical, funny and scientifically researched guide for giving your children strong foundations for positive mental health and wellbeing. The easy-to-follow, evidence-backed recommendations are exactly what parents and teachers need today to support kids in their care to flourish. May this wonderful book reach all who need it.

Megan Dalla-Camina , Founder of Women Rising and best-selling author

Karis extensive knowledge and experience in applying positive psychology and mental fitness practices has made a significant impact in the education sector over many years. There are very few programs and books showing educators and parents how to build positive mental health activities that can be easily incorporated into the everyday life of children to build habits to support their wellbeing during the good times and the bad. This book is a must read for anyone working with young children, especially those with significant challenges.

Paula Robinson , PhD, Executive Director and CEO Applied Positive Psychology Learning Institute

Raising a Mentally Fit Generation provides parents with practical advice that is both accessible and transformative. Its filled with real-life stories and science-based, practical advice. Read it, read it again, and then more importantly, apply it.

Judeth Wilson , Director of WeTrain and The Trainers Ultimate Toolkit and Ever-Learning Mum

I loved this book. It is a fabulous read, so easy to digest with some great tips and tricks along the way. The book is supported by robust science and Karis unique experience in this field. This is a must read and will add tremendously to the conversation about mental health and wellbeing, about raising mentally fit children, and being the best parent we can be. Well done Kari on a wonderful achievement.

Sue Langley , CEO Langley Group

Raising a Mentally Fit Generation is the book we all need right now. It is engaging and practical setting out a clear path for parents, early childhood educators and teachers, enabling them to help lay foundations in our young people so they can thrive in this changing world. Both conversational and compelling, it delivers vital tools and approaches for equipping children with the skills and habits they will need to be mentally and emotionally fit for their bright futures.

Justine Peacock , Coach & Psychotherapist and parent

No parent expects to be perfect, yet my greatest fear is failing to provide my daughter with the wellbeing tools she needs to grow and develop. In a world of media noise and peer pressure from other parents, Raising a Mentally Fit Generation is the breath of fresh air every parent needs to support their little ones. Its our go-to practical guide for the realities modern children face, and for issues classic parenting books dont cover. My wife and I knew what to expect when we were expecting; we are now empowered to raise a positive, resilient child ready for whatever the future holds.

Jacob Aldridge , Host of the Come Again? IVF Podcast

The perfect combination of theory and practice! What every parent needs no judgment, practical ideas, and a way forward. Raising a Mentally Fit Generation will be relevant twenty years from now as it captures how to equip our young people with the skills they need to be emotionally fit now and in the future. An outstanding read!

Roxanne Smith , Deputy Principal, and mum of two beautiful girls

Raising a mentally fit generation is everyones responsibility. We need to do things differently and help young people become and stay mentally fit. This work gives us tools to help young people build mental fitness muscles and develop seven key habits. Kari has distilled the science into ten components and brought this to you in a very readable and memorable way. Parents, schools and young people need to read this, discuss it and share it.

Professor Lindsay G. Oades , Director Centre for Positive Psychology, The University of Melbourne

First published in 2020 by Kari Sutton

2020 Kari Sutton

The moral rights of the author have been asserted

All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (for example, a fair dealing for the purposes of study, research, criticism or review), no part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, communicated or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission.

All inquiries should be made to the author.

A catalogue entry for this book is available from the National Library of Australia.

Project management and text design by Publish Central
Cover design by Peter Reardon

Disclaimer

The material in this publication is of the nature of general comment only, and does not represent professional advice. It is not intended to provide specific guidance for particular circumstances and it should not be relied on as the basis for any decision to take action or not take action on any matter which it covers. Readers should obtain professional advice where appropriate, before making any such decision. To the maximum extent permitted by law, the author and publisher disclaim all responsibility and liability to any person, arising directly or indirectly from any person taking or not taking action based on the information in this publication.

Contents

Dedication

To Andrew, I treasure our love and life together. To Mitchell, who fills my life with joy.

To my parents Anne and Jerry and brother Mark for their encouragement, love and support.

This work is also dedicated to all the children and families at Camp Quality who left imprints on my heart that will stay with me forever. Thank you for teaching me that we can all be equipped with a toolkit of attitudes, behaviours and strategies that promote positive mental health and wellbeing, no matter what our life circumstances.

A note from the author

As I was finishing this book, Australia was being ravaged by bushfires and was in the grip of one of the worst bushfire seasons we have ever had. Families, children, communities and wildlife were all hurting. I received numerous calls and emails from parents worried about how their children would bounce back from this unfathomable disaster. Our capacity to bounce back from crises, to be resilient, is moulded throughout childhood. Just like we can put actions in place to prepare our families and homes for fires, we can prepare our kids for the firestorms of life.

For the past two decades, Ive had the privilege of helping raise my nephew Mitchell after my beloved sister-in-law passed away from ovarian cancer. I was presented with this opportunity when my brother reached out for support after they had been through their own personal firestorm. As a family, weve experienced many of the same problems and concerns raising him as every other parent has, and I have always appreciated the support and chance to talk these things through with other parents. I used the tools and strategies I learned through my positive psychology studies to begin building his mental fitness muscles so that he would be able to tackle anything else life threw his way. I have also tested these ideas with thousands of other children and families, which brought me to my work today and the book youre reading right now.