Parent Resources
Parenting books that I recommend:
Wonderful books on brain-based/mindful parenting strategies:
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)
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.)
Wonderful books on brain-based/mindful parenting strategies:
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.)
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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)
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Brainstorm: The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain by Dr. Daniel J. Siegel
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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.
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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.
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The Conscious Parent by Shefali Tsabary, PhD.
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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
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Everyday Blessings: The Inner Work of Mindful Parenting by Myla and Jon Kabat-Zinn
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The Mindful Child: How to Help Your Kid Manage Stress and Become Happier, Kinder, and More Compassionate by Susan Kaiser Greenland
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Mindful Games: sharing mindfulness and meditation with children, teens, and families by Susan Kaiser Greenland
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A Handful of Quiet: Happiness in Four Pebbles by Thich Nhat Hanh
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Stay Cool and In Control with the Keep-Calm Guru by Lauren Brukner – for parent and child
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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
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Peaceful Parent, Happy Siblings: How to Stop the Fighting and Raise Friends for Life by Dr. Laura Markham
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Confident Parents, Remarkable Children by Bonnie Harris
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Pride and Joy: A Guide to Understanding Your Child’s Emotions and Solving Family Problems by Kenneth Barish
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How to Talk So Kids Will Listen, and Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish
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How to Talk So Little Kids will Listen by Joanna Faber and Julie King
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Siblings Without Rivalry: How to Help Your Children Live Together So You Can Live, Too by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish
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Duct Tape Parenting by Vicki Hoefle
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The Straight Talk on Parenting: A No-Nonsense Approach on How to Grow a Grown-Up by Vicki Hoefle
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The Gift of Failure by Jessica Lahey
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The Blessings of a Skinned Knee by Wendy Mogel
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The Blessings of a B-Minus by Wendy Mogel
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Secrets of Happy Families by Bruce Feiler
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The Self-Driven Child: The Science and Sense of Giving Your Kids More Control Over Their Lives by William Stixrud and Ned Johnson
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Unselfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All-About Me World by Michele Borba
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Parenting from Your Heart: Sharing the Gifts of Compassion, Connection and Choice – a presentation of Nonviolent Communication ideas and their use by Inbal Kashtan
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How to Raise an Adult: Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare Your Kid for Success by Julie Lythcott-Haims
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Punished by Rewards: The Trouble with Gold Stars, Incentive Plans, As, Praise and Other Bribes by Alfie Kohn
Books on parenting teens:
Books on parenting twenty-somethings:
Books on parenting in a digital age:
Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life by Nir Eyal
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Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in Their Digital World by Devorah Heitner
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The Big Disconnect: Protecting Childhood and Family Relationships in a Digital Age by Catherine Steiner-Adair
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Parenting Well in a Media Age by Gloria DeGaetano
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Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age by Sherry Turkle
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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.
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It’s Complicated: The Social Lives of Networked Teens by Danah Boyd
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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
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Living Beautifully: with Uncertainty and Change by Pema Chodron
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Resilient: How to Grow an Unshakable Core of Calm, Strength, and Happiness by Rick Hanson
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Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck
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The Art of Loving by Erich Fromm
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Change the World: How Ordinary People Can Achieve Extraordinary Results by Robert E. Quinn
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Take Time for Your Life by Cheryl Richardson
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The Adult Years: Mastering the Art of Self-Renewal by Frederic M. Hudson
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Your Brain at Work: Strategies for Overcoming Distraction, Regaining Focus, and Working Smarter All Day Long by David Rock
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Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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Speaking Peace: Connecting with Others through Nonviolent Communication by Marshall Rosenburg PhD – a great Audio CD collection that explores personal and professional applications
A Survival Guide to Parenting Teens: Talking to Your Kids About Sexting, Drinking, Drugs, and Other Things that Freak You Out by Joani Geltman
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Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood by Lisa Damour
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Brainstorm: The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain by Daniel J. Siegel
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Dial Down the Drama: Reducing Conflict and Reconnecting with Your Teenage Daughter – A Guide for Mothers Everywhere by Colleen O’Grady
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How to Raise an Adult: Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare Your Kid for Success by Julie Lythcott-Haims