Resources
Parenting books I recommend:
Wonderful books on brain-based/mindful parenting strategies:
I love the work of Dr. Laura Markham and highly recommend her books and her website, Aha Parenting, especially if you have young children.
Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids: How to Stop Yelling and Start Connecting by Dr. Laura Markham (Excellent book on how fostering emotional connection with your young child will create lasting, effective change.)
Peaceful Parent, Happy Siblings: How to Stop the Fighting and Raise Friends for Life by Dr. Laura Markham (Excellent book on how to use self-regulation, connection and coaching to help children get along with more empathy and cooperation – helpful for both your own children and children at playdates)
I love the brain-based, mindful, and loving perspectives of Daniel J. Siegel, M.D. and Tina Payne Bryson, PhD. The following books are some of my favorite books on parenting. They inspire my work with clients and with my own family. I have them in order of newest to oldest. They’re all worth reading, but I recommend their newest books first! You can also look online to see and listen to videos of both authors talking about their books.
The Power of Showing Up: How Parental Presence Shapes Who Our Kids Become and How Their Brains Get Wired by Daniel J. Siegel, M.D. and Dr. Tina Payne Bryson, Ph.D.
The Yes Brain Child: How to Help Your Child Be More Resilient, Independent and Creative by Daniel J. Siegel, M.D. and Dr. Tina Payne Bryson, Ph.D.
No-Drama Discipline: The Whole-Brain Way to Calm the Chaos and Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind by Daniel J. Siegel, M.D. and Dr. Tina Payne Bryson, Ph.D.
Brainstorm: The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain by Dr. Daniel J. Siegel
The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind by Daniel J. Siegel, M.D. and Dr. Tina Payne Bryson, Ph.D.
Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges by Amy Cuddy (This book is not specifically on parenting but has excellent ideas for understanding connections between physical postures, thought and behavior that can be helpful for parents, teens and children.)
More books on mindful/conscious parenting:
The Awakened Family: A Revolution in Parenting by Shefali Tsabary, PhD.
The Conscious Parent by Shefali Tsabary, PhD.
How to Be a Parent: The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read (and Your Children Will be Glad That You Did) by Philippa Perry
Everyday Blessings: The Inner Work of Mindful Parenting by Myla and Jon Kabat-Zinn
The Mindful Child: How to Help Your Kid Manage Stress and Become Happier, Kinder, and More Compassionate by Susan Kaiser Greenland
Mindful Games: sharing mindfulness and meditation with children, teens, and families by Susan Kaiser Greenland
A Handful of Quiet: Happiness in Four Pebbles by Thich Nhat Hanh
Stay Cool and In Control with the Keep-Calm Guru by Lauren Brukner – for parent and child
How to Be a Superhero Called Self-Control by Lauren Brukner – for parent and child
Books that focus on connecting with children, effective discipline, raising empathetic, responsible and confident children, and allowing children to learn through their mistakes:
Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids: How to Stop Yelling and Start Connecting by Dr. Laura Markham
Peaceful Parent, Happy Siblings: How to Stop the Fighting and Raise Friends for Life by Dr. Laura Markham
Confident Parents, Remarkable Children by Bonnie Harris
Pride and Joy: A Guide to Understanding Your Child’s Emotions and Solving Family Problems by Kenneth Barish
How to Talk So Kids Will Listen, and Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish
Siblings Without Rivalry: How to Help Your Children Live Together So You Can Live, Too by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish
Duct Tape Parenting by Vicki Hoefle
The Straight Talk on Parenting: A No-Nonsense Approach on How to Grow a Grown-Up by Vicki Hoefle
The Gift of Failure by Jessica Lahey
The Blessings of a Skinned Knee by Wendy Mogel
The Blessings of a B-Minus by Wendy Mogel
Secrets of Happy Families by Bruce Feiler
The Self-Driven Child: The Science and Sense of Giving Your Kids More Control Over Their Lives by William Stixrud and Ned Johnson
Unselfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All-About Me World by Michele Borba
Parenting from Your Heart: Sharing the Gifts of Compassion, Connection and Choice – a presentation of Nonviolent Communication ideas and their use by Inbal Kashtan
How to Raise an Adult: Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare Your Kid for Success by Julie Lythcott-Haims
Punished by Rewards: The Trouble with Gold Stars, Incentive Plans, As, Praise and Other Bribes by Alfie Kohn
Books on parenting teens:
A Survival Guide to Parenting Teens: Talking to Your Kids About Sexting, Drinking, Drugs, and Other Things that Freak You Out by Joani Geltman
Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood by Lisa Damour
Brainstorm: The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain by Daniel J. Siegel
Dial Down the Drama: Reducing Conflict and Reconnecting with Your Teenage Daughter – A Guide for Mothers Everywhere by Colleen O’Grady
How to Raise an Adult: Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare Your Kid for Success by Julie Lythcott-Haims
Books on parenting twenty-somethings:
The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter and How to Make the Most of Them Now by Meg Jay
Books on parenting in a digital age:
Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life by Nir Eyal
Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in Their Digital World by Devorah Heitner
The Big Disconnect: Protecting Childhood and Family Relationships in a Digital Age by Catherine Steiner-Adair
Parenting Well in a Media Age by Gloria DeGaetano
Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age by Sherry Turkle
Reset Your Child’s Brain: A Four-Week Plan to End Meltdowns, Raise Grades and Boost Social Skills by Reversing the Effects of Electronic Screen-Time by Victoria L. Dunckley, M.D.
It’s Complicated: The Social Lives of Networked Teens by Danah Boyd
You are Not a Gadget by Jaron Lanier
Books to help parents understand developmental stages of their children:
Series for children ages 1-14 years old: Example –Your One-Year Old: The Fun-Loving, Fussy 12-to-24-Month-Old by Louise Bates Ames and Frances L. Ilg Note: This series includes a book that focuses on each year of life for children ages 1-14, and while they are dated (from the 1980s), they are full of knowledge, humor, and guidance that remains helpful for parents as their children change over time. Plus, they’re inexpensive since you can buy them used!
Books to help parents reflect on their own lives:
The Four Tendencies: The Indispensable Personality Profiles That Reveal How to Make Your Life Better (and Other People’s Lives Better, Too) by Gretchen Rubin
Living Beautifully: with Uncertainty and Change by Pema Chodron
Resilient: How to Grow an Unshakable Core of Calm, Strength, and Happiness by Rick Hanson
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck
The Art of Loving by Erich Fromm
Change the World: How Ordinary People Can Achieve Extraordinary Results by Robert E. Quinn
Take Time for Your Life by Cheryl Richardson
The Adult Years: Mastering the Art of Self-Renewal by Frederic M. Hudson
Your Brain at Work: Strategies for Overcoming Distraction, Regaining Focus, and Working Smarter All Day Long by David Rock
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear
Barking Up the Wrong Tree: The Surprising Science Behind Why Everything You Know About Success Is (Mostly) Wrong by Eric Barker
Books on talking about racism and social justice with children:
Please see the Families Organizing for Racial Justice website I help maintain. Click on the Resources section for suggestions of websites, videos, books, and more.
So You Want to Talk about Race by Ijeoma Uluo is an excellent book for adults to educate themselves and others, which is an essential step if you want to talk with your children about race and racism.
Raising White Kids: Bringing Up Children in a Racially Unjust America by Jennifer Harvey is a helpful book for parents of white children who want to name the privilege of white hierarchy and raise children who can stand up against racism.
Why are all the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria and Other Conversations about Race by Beverly Daniel Tatum is an excellent book for any parent seeking to understand the dynamics of race in America. Tatum guides readers in how to talk directly about racial and ethnic identities in order to bring about greater psychological health and help bridge the divisions in American society.
Books and Resources on Nonviolent Communication:
The Center for Nonviolent Communication , PuddleDancer Press Resources on Nonviolent Communication – websites where you can download helpful sheets to support your practice
Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life, 3rd Ed. by Marshall B. Rosenburg, PhD – excellent explanation and overview of the process, filled with stories to illustrate how NVC works
Parenting from Your Heart: Sharing the Gifts of Compassion, Connection and Choice – a presentation of Nonviolent Communication ideas and their use with children by Inbal Kashtan
Speaking Peace: Connecting with Others through Nonviolent Communication by Marshall Rosenburg PhD – a great Audio CD collection that explores personal and professional applications