Guest Blogger, Charlotte Dunlop
New parents looking to prepare themselves prior to the arrival of their firstborn child generally seek advice from a variety of sources. They ask thousands of questions to their own parents along with family and friends who already took the plunge. They buy baby book after baby book hoping to learn as much information as possible both before and after the birth. With so many options out there, it can be hard to know where to start. Most begin with What to Expect When You’re Expecting, but there are hundreds of new and classic titles out there with great parenting tips. Check out a few of them below.
The Best Parenting Books of All Time
Parents looking for time-honored parenting books still popular today should consider picking up one of the following:
The Baby Book
Author(s): William Sears, M.D., Martha Sears, R.N., Robert W. Sears, M.D., James Sears, M.D.
A true family classic, The Baby Book is written the knowledgeable Sears family of physicians. One of the most trusted authorities on infants, Dr. Sears and his family offer proven advice on sleeping, eating, comfort, and the overall health of your baby. They address common behavioral issues, medical interventions, necessary vaccinations, and give great tips on how to care for your child’s emotional and physical needs.
How to Talk so Kids Will Listen and Listen so Kids Will Talk
Author(s): Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish
Existing parents already know what many new parents will soon come to learn, pleading or yelling at your child like an adult generally does not work. Faber and Mazlish teach you how to speak to your child in a respectful manner that will teach them out to express themselves better and save you a lot of headaches and hassles as they grow up. The advice they provide not only applies to children, but transfers into improving your communication skills within your other relationships as well.
Positive Discipline
Author(s): Jane Nelsen, Ed.D.
An educator, doctor of education, psychologist, and mother to seven children, Dr. Jane Nelsen’s book Positive Discipline first appeared on the market 25+ years ago. She focuses on parenting skills like maintaining mutual respect with your children while teaching them how to communicate and cooperate in a firm, but kind manner that actually works.
New Books for New Parents
While some new parents prefer to read the classics, others want to get the newest, most up-to-date advice for raising children. Even well-seasoned parents can learn a thing or two from these brilliant minds.
Ignore It!
Author: Catherine Pearlman
Pearlman is a family therapist and, therefore, has witnessed and discussed many different kinds of behavioral issues play out in a variety of settings. Since most children believe any attention is better than no attention, even if it means being shouted at by their parent. Pearlman suggests stepping back sometimes and “selectively looking the other way” can work better than addressing the bad behavior directly. That does not mean completely ignoring unsafe behavior that could lead to someone getting hurt, but stepping back and allowing children to work out their emotional issues themselves.
Gentle Discipline
Author: Sarah Ockwell-Smith
The subtitle of Gentle Discipline explains the main focus of the book, “Using Emotional Connection, Not Punishment, to Raise Confident, Capable Kids.” Ockwell-Smith addresses the many reasons children act out and how to control these bad behaviors using mutual respect and working with the child, rather than against them. She does not condone distractions as a means to calm down a misbehaving child and encourages parents to be more specific in everyday interactions.
The Grown-Up’s Guide to Teenage Humans
Author: Josh Shipp
The author, Josh Shipp, is a former foster child who survived the system despite severe behavioral issues. He managed to find a true home at the age of fourteen with a middle school history teacher and football coach named Rodney who instilled in him a sense of purpose and turned around all his behavioral issues. Shipp recounts the events of his childhood and describes how to create mutual respect and trust between you and your child along with the ways a parent’s role changes at the child ages.
Simplicity Parenting
Authors: Kim J. Payne and Lisa M. Ross
In today’s world of constant overstimulation by noise, advertisements, and general information, many people seek simplicity in their daily lives. They attempt to eliminate all the added stresses and anxieties, but how do you do that while raising small humans who also feel the consequences of overstimulation? Simplicity Parenting focuses exclusively on this struggle faced by modern parents. The authors give tips on scaling back the onslaught of modern media, how to schedule breaks and establish a more efficient rhythm to decrease tension, encouraging free play with non-screen toys, and other advice on simplifying home life for you and your child(ren).
