Good Reads For Parents

Below are books that I frequently recommend to parents. With a few exceptions, they are listed in no particular order. 

Parenting From the Inside Out by Dan Siegel and Mary Hartzell

Although these books are not necessarily in any order, I do recommend this book more than any other. It honestly is a book that anyone who has been parented should read. 

Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids by Dr. Laura Markham

Dr. Markham has a website called AhaParenting.com, which contains a lot of good information about the "whys" and "hows" of connecting with children. This book is a nice resource for much of the same information. 

Your Three-Year-Old: Friend or Enemy by Louise Bates Ames, Ph.D. and Frances Ilg, M.D.

Ames and Ilg wrote several books under the same pattern of titles (e.g., Your Two-Year-Old, Your Four-Year-Old, etc.). They are old (written in the early 1980s) but still have valid information about normalizing many difficult child behaviors.  

Everyday Blessings by Myla and Jon Kabat-Zinn

Jon Kabat-Zinn is the founder of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program and author of several excellent books on mindfulness. He and his wife have 3 children and this book is beautifully written. It is more about the parent's experience in cultivating mindfulness while parenting than practical advice. That said, it is still worth the read. 

Peaceful Parent, Happy Siblings by Dr. Laura Markham

In this book, Dr. Markham focuses more on the relationships between siblings. I'm not sure fighting, or conflict, is ever meant to completely stop but she does have helpful information about having stronger connections between siblings. 

Brainstorm by Daniel Siegel, M.D.

Yes, another book by Dan Siegel. This is a must-read for when children move into the adolescent years. It will help reframe adolescence as the "storm and stress" years to those of power and purpose. 

How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish

I read this book in grad school when preparing to become a teacher. The professor had us read it as part of a course on classroom discipline. What a valuable read! 

The Whole Brain Child by Dan Siegel, M.D. and Tina Payne Bryson, Ph.D.

This book can transform parents' understanding about what is happening in a child's brain when they are overwhelmed with emotion and engage in difficult reactions or behaviors. If you've ever wondered why giving your child logical explanations as to why having a cupcake before dinner is not a good choice fails miserably, this book will help you understand why.