My Personal parenting Book Recommendations are not all classical “parenting books”, however they are all in tune with what I believe in, and the way I coach parents.
I chose one significant quote of each book, and added a short description.
1. "The Individual Psychology of Alfred Adler"
(by Heinz L. Ansbacher and Rowena R. Ansbacher)
“Everything can also be different”.
Alfred Adler believed that what matters most is not what happens to us, but the meaning we give to the events that happen to us. This book contains all the Adlerian theory and is, at times, not an easy read, yet noteworthy for people who wish to expand their knowledge on Adlerian and positive psychology.
2. “Children: The Challenge”
(by Rudolf Dreikurs and Vicky Stolz)
“A misbehaving child is a discouraged child”.
Dreikurs spreads the Adlerian theory out in a very comprehensible and practical way. He goes through all the classical topics that challenge parents and educators, and gives many examples and tools on how to: put proper boundaries, authority, sibling rivalry and how to educate emotionally healthy, and well adapted, children.
3. “Man’s search for Meaning”
(by Viktor E. Frankl)
“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way”.
This book is Frankl’s testimony on what he endured in the camps, during the Holocaust. Through his personal story, Frankl developed a new and revolutionary psychotherapeutic approach - “Logotherapy”. Logotherapy believes that a person’s primary motivation is to find meaning and purpose in life.
4. Emotional Intelligence
(by Daniel Goleman)
“Helping people better manage their upsetting feelings - anger, anxiety, depression, pessimism, and loneliness - is a form of disease prevention”.
In his ground-breaking book, Goleman describes why knowing how to regulate emotions, is so crucial in living a satisfying life. Learning how to be better at adjusting our emotions will improve our relationships, and therefore our general well-being.
5. “Learned Optimism”
(by Martin E. P. Seligman)
“One of the most significant findings in psychology in the last twenty years is that individuals can choose the way they think”.
Seligman explains how we can change our lives for the better, just by changing how we interpret situations. When we change the way we think, we change our emotions about it, and change our life.
6. “The gifts of imperfection”
(by Brene Brown)
“Children most often learn hope from their parents. Snyder says that to learn hopefulness, children need relationships that are characterized by boundaries, consistency and support”.
Through her personal story and research on vulnerability, Brown explains how crucial it is to develop and cultivate empathy and self-love. This will be the basis for living a life full of purpose, authenticity and meaningful relationships.
7. “The Sibling Effect”
(by Jeffrey Kluger)
“From the time we’re born, our brothers and sisters are our collaborators and co-conspirators, our role models and our cautionary tales. They are our scolds, protectors, goads, tormentors, playmates, counselors, sources of envy, objects of pride. They help us learn how to resolve conflicts and how not to; how to conduct friendships and when to walk away from them”.
In this absolutely charming and brilliant book Kluger shares his personal family story, entangled with up-to-date research on the subject of sibling rivalry. If you are the parent of more than one child, you will acquire many tools and insights on that special bond, that ties brothers and sisters together.
8. “It’s ok not to Share… And other Renegade Rules for Raising Competent and Compassionate Kids”
(by Heather Shumaker)
“It’s ok not to Share….” (!!!!!)
The content of the book is as intelligent as its title, and offers tons of accurate information and practical tools to parents, regarding all the relevant parental topics: from the importance of free play, to what is “appropriate” play, sharing, how to handle strong emotions, set proper boundaries and much more.
A must read for parents!
9. “The gift of failure”
(by Jessica Lahey)
“Every time we rescue, hover, or otherwise save our children from a challenge, we send a very clear message: that we believe they are incompetent, incapable, and unworthy of our trust”.
In her outstanding book Lahay tells the story of one of today’s biggest parental challenges: overprotecting children, and thus, not allowing them to fail. She gives practical advice and strategies on how to educate children to be more autonomous and self-sufficient, and therefore with a higher sense of self-worth, and success, in their lives.
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