Looking for parenting advice to bring out the best in your child? Borrow a book from the Lititz Public Library.
Far From the Tree: Parents, Children and the Search for Identity by Andrew Solomon
The author spent years interviewing families and their unique children, exploring the nature-versus-nurture debate and what happens when children are not like their parents.
How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity and the Hidden Power of Character by Paul Tough
More than intelligence, a child’s success relies on skills like perseverance, curiosity, conscientiousness, optimism and self-control.
Bringing Up BéBé: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting by Pamela Druckerman
When her husband’s job relocated the family to Paris, the author was surprised to discover how well behaved French children were when compared to her own and decided to investigate French parenting techniques.
A Nation of Wimps: The High Cost of Invasive Parenting by Hara Estroff Marano
Parents should balance control and freedom to avoid over-parenting and a generation of dependent, medicated and emotionally fragile children.
The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind by Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson
A neuropsychiatrist and a psychotherapist team up to give examples of how a child’s brain operates in various situations with strategies to help children integrate the various parts of the brain.
The Paranoid Parents Guide: Worry Less, Parent Better and Raise a Resilient Child by Christie Barnes
The author puts the biggest parental worries into perspective, outlining the statistical likelihood of catastrophes and providing safety tips for the top-ten real dangers for children.
Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua
The daughter of Chinese immigrants decided to exercise extreme parenting when raising her daughters, applying exacting standards to grades, music lessons and avoidance of Western cultural practices.
Smart but Scattered Teens: The “Executive Skills” Program for Helping Teens Reach Their Potential by Richard Guare, Peg Dawson and Colin Guare
Teens often lack the critical tools needed to solve problems, manage time and perform tasks, activities which stem from a part of the brain not fully developed in teenagers.
No Regrets Parenting: Turning Long Days and Short Years into Cherished Moments with Your Kids by Harley A. Rotbart
Pediatrician provides practical advice for commonly asked questions regarding what kids need from parents, what parents can do for their kids and how parents can avoid feeling guilty for not doing everything.
Cleaning House: A Mom’s 12-Month Experiment to Rid Her Home of Youth Entitlement by Kay Wills Wyma
Dismayed that her children seemed to think that the world revolved around them, the author spent a year introducing her children to basic life skills and the ways meaningful work can increase self-confidence and concern for others.
Appetite for Life: The Thumbs-Up No Yuks Guide to Getting Your Child to Be a Great Eater: Including Over 100 Kid-Approved Recipes by Stacie Antine
Children can avoid lifestyle diseases like obesity, heart disease and diabetes by learning how to focus on the connection between eating well and feeling good and becoming involved in growing, shopping and preparing meals.
Connected Parenting: Set Loving Limits and Build Strong Bonds with Your Child for Life by Jennifer Kolari
Family therapist shares lessons learned by working with children who suffer from severe behavioral problems: set limits, lower the child’s anxiety level, stop endless battles over routines and learn how to keep cool in any situation.
Originally published on March 29, 2013 in the Lititz Record Express.