| Parenting books can be valuable resources to inform | | | | children--and more supportive of yourself. |
| and increase awareness of the myriad of parenting | | | | Enthusiastically praised by parents and professionals |
| and child-raising issues. Gaining valuable perspective | | | | around the world, the down-to-earth, respectful |
| from child experts, researchers, doctors, pediatricians, | | | | approach makes relationships with children of all ages |
| and other family professionals can help parents feel | | | | less stressful and more rewarding. |
| more confident and calm while interacting with their | | | | "What Kids Need to Succeed: Proven, Practical Ways |
| children. Being introduced to new information and skills | | | | to Raise Good Kids" - Dr. Peter L. Benson has done |
| can feel uncomfortable at first for some, and parenting | | | | extensive research indicating kids who build assets |
| books allow a parent to absorb information through | | | | and connections with home and community have |
| self-discovery at their own speed and pace. | | | | more of a chance to succeed later in life than those |
| As a critical consumer of parenting information, it's | | | | whose parents indulge them and try to provide the |
| important to put new awareness into practice. | | | | assets themselves. |
| Changing behavior takes time, patience and | | | | "Kids Are Worth It!: Giving Your Child The Gift Of Inner |
| commitment. Becoming aware is only the first step. | | | | Discipline" - Barbara Coloroso rejects "quick-fix" |
| Understanding the significance of the new information | | | | solutions and focuses on helping kids develop their |
| and connecting it to what will be effective for you, will | | | | own self-discipline by owning up to their mistakes, |
| help then move onto changing behavior and | | | | thinking through solutions, and correcting their misdeeds |
| incorporating new parenting skills. | | | | while leaving their dignity intact. |
| There are thousands and thousands of parenting | | | | "Kids, Parents, and Power Struggles: Winning for a |
| books available. The following list is compiled using | | | | Lifetime" - Mary Sheedy Kurcinka offers unique |
| strict and specific criteria and each book has been | | | | approaches to solving the daily, and often draining, |
| reviewed by top family and parenting trainers and | | | | power struggles between you and your child. She |
| educators. The criteria includes choosing books that | | | | views these conflicts as rich opportunities to teach |
| present new parenting information that is supported by | | | | your child essential life skills, like how to deal with |
| solid research and/or science, rather than just | | | | strong emotions and problem solve. |
| un-tested theory. These books are more | | | | "Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than |
| process-oriented, rather than just solution-oriented. | | | | IQ" - Daniel Goleman's brilliant report from the frontiers |
| That is, these books are about breaking down the | | | | of psychology and neuroscience offers startling new |
| parenting process into components that a parent can | | | | insight into our "two minds" - the rational and the |
| then use to build personal parenting philosophies | | | | emotional - and how they together shape our destiny. |
| surrounding healthy communication, values teaching, | | | | "The Anger Management Sourcebook" - Glenn |
| raising self esteem, effective discipline and more. | | | | Schiraldi and Melissa Kerr show you how to empower |
| Here are the Top 10 books that all parents should read | | | | yourself and redirect your anger into constructive |
| (in no particular order): | | | | behavior. |
| "Growing Up Again" - Jean Illsley Clarke and Connie | | | | "The Roller-coaster Years: Comprehensive Guide for |
| Dawson provide the information every adult caring for | | | | Parents of 10 to 15 Year Olds" - By Charlene C. |
| children should know - about ages and stages of | | | | Giannetti and Margaret Sagarese. This comprehensive |
| development, ways to nurture our children and | | | | guide to mastering the ups and downs of early |
| ourselves, and tools for personal and family growth. | | | | adolescence draws on the findings of leading |
| "Your Child's Self Esteem" - Dorothy Corkville offers | | | | psychologists and other experts, as well as the |
| step-by step guidelines for raising responsible, | | | | authors' surveys of many teachers, parents and young |
| productive, happy children. Self-image is your child's | | | | adolescents. |
| most important characteristic. How to help create | | | | "Yes, Your Teen is Crazy!: Loving Your Kid Without |
| strong feelings of self-worth is the central challenge for | | | | Losing Your Mind" - Dr. Michael Bradley draws on |
| every parent. | | | | current brain research and gives parents the training |
| "How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will | | | | and skills they need to transform their teenage children |
| Talk" - Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish give you the | | | | into strong, confident, productive adults. |
| know-how you need to be more effective with your | | | | |