No matter where you are on the parenting spectrum—in the throes of toilet training, struggling to instil empathy in your offspring, or searching for the holy grail of co-parenting with an ex—one thing is certain: You. Want. Answers.
It takes a lot of work to filter through the vast amounts of material available online and the plethora of parenting books that call Amazon home in order to locate the assistance you need.
Whenever people find out I’m a writer, they often ask, “Amy, what are your favourite parenting books?!” It would be hard to share all of my favourite things with you, but I do have a few suggestions that I think you’ll enjoy.
This selection of books can help you with many of the challenges you face as a parent, from basic guidance to addressing specific concerns.
Our top choices for 2023 are as follows.
1. Thrivers: The Unexpected Causes of Some Children’s Difficulty and Other Children’s Success
As explained by Michele Borba, Ph.D.Thrivers Borba, Michele
Michele returns to the topic of why some children are more successful than others after the success of her first book, UnSelfie.
Today’s youth are more ambitious and successful than any previous generation. They aren’t much happy, though, and it’s not a coincidence.
Those who “thrive,” however, have certain fundamental qualities. The good news is that one can learn these characteristics.
The newly released book, Thrivers, delves deeply into each of these characteristics and guides parents and teachers to better understand what children truly need to thrive.
2. Social Justice Parenting: Strategies for Creating a Generation of Anti-Racist, Justice-Centered Global Citizens
Book jacket for “Social Justice Parenting”Presented by: Dr. Traci Baxley
Bringing up responsible children involves more than just making sure they can support themselves. As Baxley articulately explains, it’s about making the world a better place for themselves and others.
The most profound shifts in our culture frequently begin incrementally, with the help of educated and aware youth.
3. The Explosive Child by Ross W. Greene, PhD: A New Approach to Understanding and Parenting Children Who Are Easily Frustrated and Chronically Inflexible
Little BombIs your youngster getting out of hand? Is your kid the kind to lose it if something goes wrong? Please pick up this book if you’ve exhausted all other options.
This book provides a caring, intelligent, and actionable road map for addressing and preventing these detrimental behaviours.
Dr. Greene will explain why conventional discipline strategies fail to calm hyperactive youngsters.
4. Brain-Body Parenting: The Revolutionary Programme That Teaches You How To Raise Happy, Capable Children Child Rearing Using Your Whole Brain
Written by Dr. Mona Delahooke
Dr. Delahooke emphasises that behaviour is only a symptom and not the illness itself. We have a better chance of making a difference in our children’s lives and giving their actions meaning when we stop reacting so hastily as parents.
The capacity to empathise, comprehend, and aid our children is enhanced when we take steps to manage our own expectations by learning about the dynamic nature of our children’s brains.
5. The Addiction Inoculation: Nurturing Resilient Children in an Addicted World
Author: Jessica LaheyAuthor Jessica Lahey’s The Addiction Inoculation
Educating and protecting young people against the dangers of drug usage is essential.
Jessica demonstrates via extensive study how a few effective measures may make the difference between a child’s severe addiction and healthy self-control.
Jessica’s suggestions will assist shed light on the situation and point you in the right direction. Don’t let your thoughts about prospective substance usage keep you up any longer.
6. You Do It: Julie Lythcott-Haims on AdultingTime for You The Essential Guide to Growing Up, by Julie Lythcott-Haims
At 18, a child is not immediately considered an adult. To be considered an adult, one must wait.
What constitutes a “adult” also shifts throughout time.
For many years, Julie has worked with college freshmen, those young people who are mature enough to make decisions on their own but aren’t necessarily ready to do so.
Julie underlines that maturing into an adult is an arduous but worthwhile journey. Thankfully, this manual is a complete resource for young adults.
7. The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Ways to Support Your Child’s Growing Intelligence Integral Brain Infant
Written by two medical doctors: Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson.
Drs. Siegel and Bryson help you work with your child’s brain rather than against it by providing insight into what’s going on in your child’s head. Children will be more relaxed and content if you adopt these 12 tactics for promoting healthy brain growth.
The Whole-Brain Child guides parents in fostering their children’s healthy emotional and intellectual development so that they may lead balanced, meaningful, and connected lives. The book is complete with age-appropriate strategies for dealing with day-to-day struggles and illustrations that will help you explain these concepts to your child.
8. Fourteen Talks by Age Fourteen
Author: Michelle Icard
Walking on eggshells while conversing with tweens and teens is common. They appear easily frustrated, bored, insulted, and disinterested in their parents’ words.
Nuanced and thoughtful interactions are necessary to develop a secure bond with your growing children and equip them for success in today’s society.
In a calm and assured manner, Michelle leads you through these challenging but important discussions.
9. Positive Discipline: The Timeless Guide to Raising Children Who Are Disciplined by Their Own Standards and Who Take Responsibility for Their Own Learning
Discipline that WorksArticle by Jane Nelsen, Ed.D.
The books, training, and approach known as “Positive Discipline” were developed by Jane Nelsen and are based on the ideas of Dr. Alfred Adler.
Jane is an expert in parenting because of her experience as a psychologist, teacher, and mother of seven. Jane offers concrete advice for parents and educators on how to strike a balance between kindness and firmness, love and consistency, in this book and her other works.
She explains that the foundation of Positive Discipline is not punishment but rather mutual respect. Jane will show you how to convince your kids to do what you want them to without violating their sense of self-worth.
10. “Mindset” Is The New Success Psychology
Mindset / Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D. Contemporary Theories in PsychologyYou could be reading the title and thinking, “Wait a second!” That’s not a guide for parents! Please hear me out before you abandon this article: parenting, like most things in life, is mostly a matter of perspective.
This book covers every aspect of being a parent and helping your children grow up to be successful.
As the author of this superb book demonstrates, one’s perception of one’s own skills has a significant impact on one’s success in practically every human endeavour, including parenting.
People with a fixed mindset, who think their innate talents can’t be improved upon, have a lower chance of success than those with a development perspective. The authors of this must-read book explain how they have used this concept to help their children achieve remarkable success.
Wrapping It Up
In conclusion, there is still enough new information and helpful advice for parents to glean from the parenting literature in the year 2023. The finest parenting books of 2023 include a variety of approaches and techniques to assist parents deal with the complexities of modern childrearing. These publications cover a wide range of topics relevant to parents, such as child growth and development, alternative forms of discipline, effective communication, and the promotion of positive relationships.
