Recommended Reading
PARENTING
Raising Human Beings
Ross W. Greene
This books outlines a collaborative parenting approach, whereby you solve problems with your children. It’s easy to fall into the trap of telling our children what to do and getting frustrated when they don’t follow our directions.
I believe this approach helps us to raise responsible children and maintain a good relationship with your children as they grow into their own individual human beings.
Good Enough Parenting
John Philip Louis and Karen McDonald Louis
This book is based on schema therapy and how to parent in a way to avoid your child developing strongly maladaptive schemas.
The core needs of children are outlined and there is information on how to meet these core needs and avoid exasperation interactions.
The Whole-Brain Child
Daniel J. Siegel & Tina Payne Bryson.
In this pioneering, practical book, Daniel J. Siegel, neuropsychiatrist, and parenting expert Tina Payne Bryson offer a revolutionary approach to child rearing with twelve key strategies that foster healthy brain development, leading to calmer, happier children.
The “upstairs brain,” which makes decisions and balances emotions, is under construction until the mid-twenties. And especially in young children, the right brain and its emotions tend to rule over the logic of the left brain. No wonder kids throw tantrums, fight, or sulk in silence.
By applying these discoveries to everyday parenting, you can turn any outburst, argument, or fear into a chance to integrate your child’s brain and foster vital growth.
Complete with age-appropriate strategies for dealing with day-to-day struggles and illustrations that will help you explain these concepts to your child, The Whole-Brain Child shows you how to cultivate healthy emotional and intellectual development so that your children can lead balanced, meaningful, and connected lives.
The Tech Diet for your Child and Teen
Brad Marshall
We all face the issue of how to manage technology in our children’s lives. I found this good had some good tips.
The author suggests that WiFi use shouldn’t be a given, but more a reward to be measured. The book made me investigate and become familiar with parental controls for WiFi and think about how to limit WiFi use in the house.
I love the idea of being able to set a timer for how long WiFi can be used by each user in a day.
RELATIONSHIPS
Attached
Dr Amir Levine & Rachel S.F. Heller
There are some great quizzes in this book to help you identify your relationship style, as well as that of your partner or someone you are dating.
This helps in identifying partners who might be more suited to you.
The book also offers suggestions on improving your relationships skills including effective communication and how to handle conflict in a relationship.
MINDFULNESS
This book has some great tips for how to bring more mindfulness into your everyday life.
I love the idea of observing another person’s breathing when you’re talking to them.
Not only does this help keep your attention on the conversation but it also increases your ability to be with the person rather than being caught up in your head and planning your next activity.
