Positive Parenting Books
Parenting Books for a Positive Approach
If you want to support yourself in parenting more respectfully and confidently, I can recommend some parenting books that have been the most influential for me.
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Table of Contents
Books for Pregnancy Through Toddlerhood
Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn
Penny Simkin et al.
After reading many pregnancy books, I gave away all of them and kept this one. This is the only pregnancy book you’ll need! The information is thorough and fascinatingly factual. It’s a very long book, so I recommend beginning to read it early on in the pregnancy.
The Bottom Line for Baby
Dr. Tina Payne Bryson
This is the book that I wish I had when my kids were born. It is so easy to navigate and it touches on a multitude of topics from a scientific perspective. It is very easy to read and I like that it gives real-life examples of when the author did not follow the science exactly and it was still ok.
No Bad Kids
Janet Lansbury
I love Janet Lansbury’s definition of respectful parenting. This book is a must-read for all new parents. She has great examples and a firm and clear vision of what respectful parenting looks like and how to define boundaries with toddlers.
Mindset-Forming Books
Rest, Play, Grow
Dr. Deborah Macnamara
In this book, we learn to understand children’s immaturity which is at the root of all their behaviors. It explains how parents are responsible for creating the right conditions for children to mature and realize their full potential. And it places the relationship at the center of this process.
Hold On to Your Kids
Dr. Gordon Neufeld, Dr. Gabor Mate
When I first read this book, I kept exclaiming, “Wow! Wow!” This is a call to start appreciating the important role that we play in our children’s lives. It helps parents understand how to build connection with children to reduce the effects of peer influence.
The Conscious Parent
Dr. Shefali Tsabary
This book is a powerful invitation to view our children from a different perspective. It helps parents to let go of cultural expectations and to think critically when it comes to setting parenting goals. Our children have a right to fulfill their own destiny, not their parents’ unfulfilled dreams.
Parenting From the Inside Out
Dr. Dan Siegel, Mary Hartzel
This book is very intense and will transform the way you view your role as a parent! It explains how our past experiences shape who we are and how they influence our emotions and reactions to situations in the present. We cannot be compassionate parents without making sense of our past and this book is showing us how.
Simplicity Parenting
Kim John Payne
In a world filled with things, sounds, and just sensory overload in general, it seems very hard to simplify our lives and our parenting. But this is making our kids more anxious. In this book, we learn how to establish rhythms, rituals, and schedules, and how to create a family-centric culture that helps kids feel they belong.
Playful Parenting
Dr. Lawrence Cohen
Parenting doesn’t have to always be serious. In fact, we can better understand our children’s perspectives when we engage with them through playfulness. Play can bring us closer together and foster a deeper relationship of trust. In his book, Dr. Cohen shows us how to rediscover our playful side and build a stronger bond with our children.
The Science Behind Behaviors
Beyond Behaviors
Dr. Mona Delahooke
This is a great perspective on children’s behaviors, not as something we have to change, but rather as something we have to understand and adapt to. The book explains how the brain develops, and what to expect at different stages of development.
The Yes Brain
Dr. Dan Siegel, Dr. Tina Payne Bryson
I love how easy it is to follow this book. It explains the “yes brain state” that we want our children to develop. This refers to being flexible, resilient, and able to navigate the unpredictability of life in a positive manner. It has lots of practical ideas and good comics and illustrations to help us remember the content more easily.
The Power of Showing Up
Dr. Dan Siegel, Dr. Tina Payne Bryson
All the books written by Dr. Dan Siegel and Dr. Tina Payne Bryson are fantastic. But what I like about this one is that it seems to bring all books together. The authors present four components that lead to a secure attachment, with practical examples.
Discipline Books
Positive Discipline
Jane Nelsen, Ed.D
From the founder of Positive Discipline, this is a book that is based on science. Highly practical, it is full of strategies that help us raise competent and cooperative children. This is a foundational book for any parent who wants to understand the principles of Positive Discipline.
Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids
Dr. Laura Markham
Dr. Laura’s book was transformative for me. This was the first parenting book that resonated with me and the one that started me on the positive parenting path. Dr. Laura’s approach is guided by a parent’s deep love for their children.
No Drama Discipline
Dr. Dan Siegel, Dr. Tina Payne Bryson
Based on brain science, this book explains our children’s behaviors and gives practical advice on how to respond to meltdowns and other triggering behaviors. It also explains the science behind why traditional discipline methods and punishment don’t work.
Listen
Patty Wipfler, Tosha Schore
This is a wonderful book for understanding children’s emotions. It presents the 5 tools of Hand-In-Hand Parenting, drawn from Positive Discipline, for building more connection and cooperation with our children. Most of all, it is a reminder of the power of listening and observing more, with curiosity.
Specialty Books
Fatherhood in 40-Minute Snapshots
Jeremy Schneider
This book was written by a father during his 40-minute commute. It talks about lots of different aspects of being a father, such as what the author wished he had known before having kids, different ways he connected with his kids, how he managed his marriage difficulties through parenting and much more.
The Highly Sensitive Child
Dr. Elaine Aron
This book was a game-changer for me. It helped me understand myself as a highly sensitive person, as well as my child, also highly sensitive. If your child seems overwhelmed and like this world is sometimes too much, Dr. Aron’s book will explain all that’s going on in your child’s mind. This is an eye-opening read.
Peaceful Parent, Happy Siblings
Dr. Laura Markham
This is a long book, but you will be transformed by the time you finish reading it. I recommend it to all parents who are expecting a second child. You will learn how to prepare your only child for the coming of a sibling, as well as clear and solid strategies for building a strong sibling relationship.
