Book Review: Hot Stuff to Help Kids Cheer Up!
This self-described “first book designed to help kids conquer their depression," written by Jerry Wilde, PhD, a former school psychologist and now an associate professor of educational psychology, is more workbook than narrative – a plus when working directly with the depressed child.
Two things come to mind when I look at the cover of the book. One, the title, Hot Stuff to Help Kids Cheer Up, can be off-putting. “Cheer up” is not a phrase I would use with depressed children. When Nicholas, the boy suffering depression in the Down & Out series, retreated to his room, pulled the covers over his head, and refused to participate in life for days, I doubt he would have responded to “cheer up.”
The other is the stated ages for the book: 9 to 12. I believe this book could be useful in that age bracket with the assistance of a therapist or psychologist. However, I think the book is more appropriate for ages 12 and up. These children are more likely to identify and discuss their feelings than younger children. (My partner, and parent coach, Mary Scribner, agrees.)
On the plus side, there are several aspects of the book that caught my attention. Dr. Wilde writes conversationally, which appeals to most children I know, and he deliberately uses large type. This adds a sense of humor and fun to the reading. I also think his “you are not alone” approach is brilliant. Children suffering with depression often feel that they are “special” and not in a good way. He offers statistics that prove his point. For example, nearly 10 percent of children between ages twelve to seventeen experienced depression in the last year.
But, Dr. Wilde does not suggest (good for him) that all children who are sad are also depressed. In fact, he offers a compare-and-contrast definition of sadness and depression. “Sadness is a reaction to loss, disappointment, or a significant change, and usually only last for a few hours or days….Depression is longer lasting and much more intense than sadness.” Simplistic? Yes. Words and terms a child can understand. Also Yes.
When I met with the psychiatrist Dr. Thornton mentioned in the Down & Out series, I admired her use of “awfulizing” and thought it an effective devise when working with patients. Dr. Wilde uses the same strategy in his book. He calls it “Alligator Thoughts" For example, the child may be thinking: “'I’m not popular' (possibly true) and that means 'I’m an unlovable, rotten person' (alligator thought).”
Dr. Wilde also applies this technique effectively in the section called Same Event, Different Feelings. “You just won the lottery for $100,000, 000. What thought could you have that would make winning the lottery an unhappy experience?” And the reverse strategy: “You got a Saturday detention. What thought could you have that would make a Saturday detention a happy experience?”
According to the publisher Sourcebooks, Hot Stuff to Help Kids Cheer Up will teach kids:
• How to think differently so they can feel differently
• What causes depression and low self-esteem
• The difference between sadness and depression
• How to stop worrying about what other people think
• How not to equate how well they do with their self-worth.
While I am not sure that a single book could accomplish all those dot points, I would consider the book a success if it helped a depressed child in even one of the areas.
Overall, I thought the book utilized a number of interesting and innovative techniques that might prove successful, depending on the responsiveness of the child, and I plan to share this book with a couple of therapist friends.
To buy this book, visit Amazon.com
