There are thousands of parenting books out there, here are my personal favorites that I recommend to fellow parents. I have each of these books and use them regularly as well. Try to start your day off with some quiet time and read a handful of pages from one of these books. Think of it as part of your routine for getting ready for work. Parenting is work… and it helps to be equipped with the right knowledge and in the right headspace right from the start, right?!?!
How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish
I love this book and recommend it to all parents! Many mornings I wake up and reread a handful of pages from this book just to get my head in the right parenting headspace! I doubt this book will ever become “outdated” and the comic illustrations are priceless and make me laugh.
Written by Joanna Faber, whose mother wrote the original How to Talk book listed above, and Julie King. Yes, I agree with many of the reviews that it is a must-read for parents of young children. Want to know what to give a parent of a new child?…. yep, this book! Honestly, both books should be mandatory reads for parents who want to raise nice kids who can listen and communicate effectively with you and others.
The Power of Positive Parenting: A Wonderful Way to Raise Children by Dr. Glenn Latham
This book was published in 1994, but the author’s advice is still relevant and meaningful to parents of all ages today.
Wow, I was so happy to see a book like this written. Many parenting books don’t even touch on how your kids’ challenging behaviors can trigger big emotions from you, especially anger. The exercises in this book really help you better understand yourself and teach you strategies for staying calm and moving on. I wish someone had given me this book when my first child was born because it can be scary when your precious child presses buttons that you didn’t even know you had. This book helps you understand those buttons, leads you through self-understanding, and gives you tools so you can be a grounded, effective parent.
The author also has an outstanding podcast that I recommend: Mindful Parenting Podcast
A long time ago, I went to Yale University to be trained in Dr. Kazdin’s approach - much of which he outlines in this book. I highly recommend this book to parents whose children have been labeled as Oppositional Defiant Disorder or are meeting the criteria for such a diagnosis. I recommend you read this book AND read the Raising Good Humans and How to Talk books too.
Raising Them Ready: Practical Ways to Prepare Your Kids for Life on Their Own: by Jonathon & Erica Catherman
I love how the authors have created “Launch Lists” for children from ages 2-18 years of age. These lists can help parents determine what they need to teach their children to ready them for adulthood (i.e., actually being a self-sufficient adult). I love how the authors provide these lists and rationale for such. Further, they explain HOW to teach your children these skills starting at 2 years of age.
How do other cultures parent there children? Is there anything that American parents could glean from other cultures’ parenting practices? Are American parents negatively impacting their children’s development by “helicoptering”? I love this book. It is not a traditional do-this parenting book. It is more of a “let’s just take a look at how others are doing this" around the world and maybe we should consider some of the different approaches. Makes you go, “hmmmm….”
The Parent's Guide to Oppositional Defiant Disorder: Your Questions Answered by Amelia Bowler
I first heard the author Amelia Bowler speak about her book on the The Behavioral Observations podcast, and then I had to read the book. As a behavior analyst, she never really believed she could have a child with Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)… I like how she shares her own trials and tribulations and then specifically addresses how she helped her son.
For an entertaining book that introduces you to the world of ABA:
To learn an effective approach to toilet training your child:
Toilet Training in Less than a Day by Drs. Nate Azrin and Richard Foxx
To learn an effective approach to improving your child's sleep:
Good Night, Sweet Dreams, I Love you: Now Get Into Bed and Go to Sleep! by Dr. Patrick Friman
Books for Educators and Parents:
Blind Spots: Why Students Fail and the Science That Can Save Them by Kimberly Nix Berens
How to Talk so Kids Can Learn At Home and In School by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish
To learn more about Applied Behavior Analysis: