Raising children as it is is challenging enough, but raising them in a society where they are exposed to many negative aspects of modern era surely gives you a headache. Well, for that reason, we decided to compile a list of books that could help you bridge this sensitive period of their growing up and prepare you as a parent to respond to many challenges of parenthood.
Reading lists are pretty common for children of school age. But what about parents? We think we too should be open to learning new things and that’s why every month, we will compile a list of books for that month. The books on this list have been published recently and would certainly be a great gift to yourself but also for your fellow parents, but also a great source of information for you too.
Let us know what you think of them.
1. How to Raise Kind Kids: And Get Respect, Gratitude, and a Happier Family in the Bargain by Thomas Lickona
We all want kids who choose to be kind, and developmental psychologist Dr. Thomas Lickona makes the point in “How to Raise Kind Kids” that kindness doesn’t exist in a vacuum but happens when kids have other virtues as well, such as gratitude and courage. Using both research and practical tips from other families, Lickona explains how parents can give their kids the tools they need to be not only kind but also happy.
2. Like a Mother: A Feminist Journey Through the Science and Culture of Pregnancy by Angela Garbes
A candid, feminist, and personal deep dive into the science and culture of pregnancy and motherhood.
Like most first-time mothers, Angela Garbes was filled with questions when she became pregnant. What exactly is a placenta and how does it function? How does a body go into labor? Why is breast best? Is wine totally off-limits? But as she soon discovered, it’s not easy to find satisfying answers. Your obstetrician will cautiously quote statistics; online sources will scare you with conflicting and often inaccurate data; and even the most trusted books will offer information with a heavy dose of judgment. To educate herself, the food and culture writer embarked on an intensive journey of exploration, diving into the scientific mysteries and cultural attitudes that surround motherhood to find answers to questions that had only previously been given in the form of advice about what women ought to do””rather than allowing them the freedom to choose the right path for themselves.
In Like a Mother, Garbes offers a rigorously researched and compelling look at the physiology, biology, and psychology of pregnancy and motherhood, informed by in-depth reportage and personal experience. With the curiosity of a journalist, the perspective of a feminist, and the intimacy and urgency of a mother, she explores the emerging science behind the pressing questions women have about everything from miscarriage to complicated labors to postpartum changes. The result is a visceral, full-frontal look at what’s really happening during those nine life-altering months, and why women deserve access to better care, support, and information.
Infused with humor and born out of awe, appreciation, and understanding of the female body and its strength, Like a Mother debunks common myths and dated assumptions, offering guidance and camaraderie to women navigating one of the biggest and most profound changes in their lives.
3. The Self-Driven Child: The Science and Sense of Giving Your Kids More Control Over Their Lives by
Bill is a clinical neuropsychologist who helps kids gripped by anxiety or struggling to learn. Ned is a motivational coach who runs an elite tutoring service. Together they discovered that the best antidote to stress is to give kids more of a sense of control over their lives. But this doesn’t mean giving up your authority as a parent. In this groundbreaking book, they reveal how you can actively help your child to sculpt a brain that is resilient, and ready to take on new challenges.
The Self-Driven Child offers a combination of cutting-edge brain science, the latest discoveries in behavioral therapy, and case studies drawn from the thousands of kids and teens Bill and Ned have helped over the years to teach you how to set your child on the real road to success. As parents, we can only drive our kids so far. At some point, they will have to take the wheel and map out their own path. But there is a lot you can do before then to help them tackle the road ahead with resilience and imagination.
4. No more mean girls: The Secret to Raising Strong, Confident, and Compassionate Girls by Katie Hurley
Once upon a time, mean girls primarily existed in high school, while elementary school-aged girls spent hours at play and enjoyed friendships without much drama. But in this fast-paced world in which young girls are exposed to negative behaviors on TV and social media from the moment they enter school, they are also becoming caught up in social hierarchies much earlier. No More Mean Girls is a guide for parents to help their young daughters navigate tricky territories such as friendship building, creating an authentic self, standing up for themselves and others, and expressing themselves in a healthy way.
5. Enough As She Is: How to Help Girls Move Beyond Impossible Standards of Success to Live Healthy, Happy, and Fulfilling Lives by Rachel Simmons
For many girls today, the drive to achieve is fueled by brutal self-criticism and an acute fear of failure. Though young women have never been more “successful”-outpacing boys in GPAs and college enrollment-they have also never struggled more. On the surface, girls may seem exceptional, but in reality, they are anxious and overwhelmed, feeling that, no matter how hard they try, they will never be smart enough, successful enough, pretty enough, thin enough, popular enough, or sexy enough.
Deeply empathetic and meticulously researched, Enough As She Is offers a clear understanding of this devastating problem and provides practical parenting advice””including teaching girls self-compassion as an alternative to self-criticism, how to manage overthinking, resist the constant urge to compare themselves to peers, take healthy risks, navigate toxic elements of social media, prioritize self-care, and seek support when they need it. Enough As She Is sounds an alarm to parents and educators, arguing that young women can do more than survive adolescence. They can thrive. Enough As She Is shows us how.
6. The Good News About Bad Behavior: Why Kids Are Less Disciplined Than Ever —And What to Do About It by
You’re not alone if your child has misbehaved in public and you felt like everyone was looking at you like it was your fault. But blaming parents isn’t helping, when really the blame should be placed on old ideas of punishments and rewards, according to Katherine Reynolds Lewis in her new book. In “The Good News About Bad Behavior,” she presents a new theory of child discipline that focuses on learning self-control called The Apprentice Method. It includes a lot of empathy, something we wish those Judgey McJudgersons giving us those looks would try out.
If you have already read these books, let us know your comments and how they helped you if at all. If you have other books you’ve read and would like to share, please let us know in the comments below. We will publish the new list next month.
