Before I had kids (when I was a perfect ‘parent’- HA!), I heard parenting was hard. But man, parenting is HARD!!! I have read countless parenting books and a handful have made it to my bookshelf. In no particular order, let me introduce you to my list of favorites.
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Good Inside
Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be by Dr. Becky Kennedy is my new favorite parenting book. It gives you hope, tools, and guidance on how to navigate your parenting journey. Read more about it in this blog post. I also included Good Inside on my running list of books for cycle breakers.
Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids
Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids: How to Stop Yelling and Start Connecting by Dr. Laura Markham is an excellent resource to have on hand. It is the encyclopedia of gentle parenting. I love the layout of the Contents pages; each sub-section of every chapter is listed. This makes it very user-friendly to search a specific topic and flip right to her wise counsel. Throughout the book, suggestions are broken down by age groups. Are you on the fence about the ‘cry-it-out’ method? She discusses that in Chapter Three. I wish I had this book before I had my kids. I recommend it to all new parents.
The Whole Brain Child
Next up is The Whole Brain Child by Daniel J. Siegel. This mind-blowing book helped me to realize that kids sometimes just CAN’T control their emotions. He explains the reasons why, what we can do to help them through their big emotions, and gives many suggestions to help the child grow. When I was first reading this book several years ago, I had just read how children need to retell (or have the adult retell) the story if something happens to them that is scary. It was timely advice as my second had a scary mishap during their swim lesson. We retold the story immediately as many times as was needed and the following week they happily attended their swim lesson. With my first, after a swim mishap, it took almost a month before they wanted to return to their swim lessons. Coincidence? Maybe or maybe not.
The ‘Me, Me, Me’ Epidemic
The ‘Me, Me, Me Epidemic: A Step-by-Step Guide to Raising Capable, Grateful Kids in an Over-Entitled World by Amy McCready I originally borrowed from the library. I fell in love with the book so much that I wanted my own copy. A thoughtful friend actually purchased a copy for my birthday when I mentioned I was going to get it someday. This book is broken down into concepts, un-entitler bullet points, and tips on how to put it to use. Not a believer in a particular point? Have no fear! McCready also includes a “Yes, But…” section that explains how the concept can work for different scenarios. The un-entitler points are catchy and easy to remember in the trenches of parenting. I am due to review the main points in this book. There is so much great stuff.
Untigering
I have been following Iris Chen, founder of the Untigering movement, for over a year. I love her stuff. When she shared her new book Untigering: Peaceful Parenting for the Deconstructing Tiger Parent, I made sure to purchase it. It did not disappoint. Chen picks apart every aspect of parenting which includes dissecting ourselves. Many parents, myself included, thought that children were the main issue when ‘problems’ arise. She explains thoroughly how it is not necessarily the case. I learned a lot from Part Two: “Rewiring our Instincts,” especially Chapter Four: “Rethinking a Child’s Nature.” If your goal is to be a peaceful parent, this needs to be on your bookshelf. I know I will revisit it often.
Love-Centered Parenting
Another parenting book read was Love-Centered Parenting: The No-Fail Guide to Launching Your Kids by Crystal Paine. I found it randomly while at the library. After reading the book, I had to get a copy for my bookshelf. There is so much knowledge crammed into this beautiful blue book. Each chapter ends with “Two Transforming Truths for Love-Centered Parenting” that encompasses the theme of that chapter. One subsection in Chapter Eight that got my attention which was “Stop Parenting to Protect Your Reputation.” Ouch! That one hurt a bit because it is so true. It is an eye-opening and humbling book to read. It is a book to reference often. I highly recommend. A warning for those that care: this book was written with a strong Christian theme.
Brain-Body Parenting
My most recent read was Brain-Body Parenting: How to Stop Managing Behavior and Start Raising Joyful, Resilient Kids by Mona Delahooke, PhD. This is such an important book that it has its own blog post. It explains the science behind behaviors, how the nervous system is involved, and what we can do to assist the process. It is well-organized and vital information for parents. Check out my other blog post for more information.
Protecting the Gift
Do you have a lot of stress and anxiety since becoming a parent? Do you know how best to protect your kids against dangerous people? The book Protecting the Gift: Keeping Children and Teenagers Safe (and Parents Sane) by Gavin De Becker is an incredible resource that teaches parents how to educate their children when outside of the home. My anxious heart gained valuable knowledge. It is a must read for parents. Read more about it in this blog post. A warning for those that care: heavy topics are discussed as well as cautionary tales. Make sure you are in the right head space before beginning.
What books have helped you improve your parenting? Please share in the comments! Check out my other blog post about raising children. Make sure to check out additional non-fiction posts for more great book recommendations.
More Parenting Books That Are On My To Be Read (TBR) List
The Conscious Parent: Transforming Ourselves, Empowering Our Children by Dr. Shefali Tsabary
Hunt, Gather, Parent: What Ancient Cultures Can Teach Us About the Lost Art of Raising Happy, Helpful Little Humans by Michaeleen Doucleff
Beyond Behaviors: Using Brain Science and Compassion to Understand and Solve Children’s Behavioral Challenges by Mona Delahooke, PhD
Raising Human Beings: Creating a Collaborative Partnership with Your Child by Ross W. Greene, PhD
The Power of Showing Up: How Parental Presence Shapes Who Our Kids Become and How Their Brains Get Wired by Daniel J. Siegel
The Explosive Child by Ross Greene
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