Eden Prairie parents packed Pax Christi Catholic Church Tuesday evening to listen to David Walsh offer up evidence of rampant “discipline deficit disorder” in our society—and ways to counteract that.

The speech, based off of Walsh’s recent book, “No, -- Why kids of All Ages—Need to Hear It and Ways Parents Can Say It,” included a number of tips on how parents can ensure their own child learns self discipline.

“It’s their job to push against it,” he said about children, then adding that it is parent’s job to teach it.

Some of it may have to do with how you praise your child. He warned against falling for the myths of self esteem: namely that self esteem means just feeling good about yourself. Real self esteem, he said, is built on competence and achievement.

“Self esteem is like a mirror,” he said. “And a good mirror should reflect back accurately.”

Ideally, it’s more important for parents to praise effort rather than underlying ability.  Too much generic praise leads to risk avoidance, according to Walsh.

Time for more discussion

What: Continue the conversation by attending an upcoming a parent discussion night

When: 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 10

Where: Oak Point Intermediate School, 13400 Staring Lake Parkway

And the following is a news release from Hennepin County Libraries:

Hennepin County Library hosts interactive, facilitated book discussions for No, Why Kids of All Ages Need to Hear It and Ways Parents Can Say It 

Say Yes to No, a community conversation from MediaWise, facilitators will lead discussions on nurturing healthy, self-reliant kids What: Join other parents, caregivers and adults with children in their lives, for a lively discussion of strategies for nurturing healthy, self-reliant kids.

The interactive, facilitated discussions will explore the ideas presented in Dr. David Walsh’s new book, No, Why Kids of All Ages Need to Hear It and Ways Parents Can Say It. With this book, Psychologist David Walsh, president and founder of the National Institute on Media and the Family and award-winning author, provides the antidote to Discipline Deficit Disorder. 

Who: Presented by Hennepin County Library; with support from MELSA and Minnesota Say Yes to No, a community conversation from MediaWise. 

When and where:  

Monday, March 3, 7 p.m., Eden Prairie Library

Saturday, March 8, 2 p.m., Walker Library

Thursday, March 13, 6:30 p.m., Washburn Library

Thursday, March 20, 6:30 p.m., Northeast Library Cost: Free, registration required.

To register, visit http://www.melsa.org/go/parenting/events.cfm. Questions: Contact Melinda Ludwiczak, partnerships coordinator, Hennepin County Library, 612-630-6246, mludwiczak@hclib.org.