My favorite Parenting books as a Marriage and Family Therapist
There are so many parenting books out there to pick from, it can all feel a little overwhelming when you need some help. Here are the top parenting books I have read and can recommend*:
The Explosive Child by Ross Greene. Even if you don’t have an “explosive” child, the parenting philosophy and techniques introduced in this book is one that will work for most parents, including parents of neurodivergent kids. Greene’s approach involved collaborating with the child, which is such a revolutionary idea in societies that usually prioritize adult feelings and needs. I’m not kidding when I say this book completely changed the way I parent for the better. Greene is also the guest for many podcasts, if that is more your jam.
The Explosive Child by Ross Greene
2. Raising Your Spirited Child by Mary Sheedy Kurkinka. Kurkinka uses her experiencing in facilitating several parenting groups to provide so many useful parenting tips. We incorporate many in our own home, such as providing multiple reminders before a transition. I also love her reminder that the way we speak about our kids matter, and that even a child’s most unpleasant traits can be reframed into a strength.
Raising Your Spirited Child by Mary Kurcinka
3. The Whole-Brain Child by Daniel Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson. At around 150 pages, this book is shorter than many parenting books and gives a ton of psychoeducation on the development of a child’s brain, and how to meet them where they are developmentally. I love the authors’ metaphor of the brain being like a house, and a child’s is still under construction. The authors also penned No-Drama Discipline, which provides more parenting techniques.
The Whole-Brain Child by Siegel and Bryson
4. How to Talk So Little Kids Will Listen by Joanne Faber and Julie King. This book is catered to parents of small children, but the authors also have a similar book for parenting older kids: How to Talk so Kids Will Listen. The authors provide tools for things like tattling, sibling rivalry, big emotions, lying, engaging cooperation, and managing conflict.
How to Talk So Little Kids Will Listen by Faher and King
I hope you found this list helpful! Good luck on your parenting journey! If you are a Colorado resident interested in becoming a client, please reach out here.
May today feels like a hug.
Love,
Angela
*These books are not applicable for parenting children who live with severe intellectual disability.
