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