I don’t read a ton of parenting books–I much prefer podcasts for my regular parenting advice intake. However, I do read them occasionally and today I wanted to round up a few favorites that I’ve read over the years. These aren’t all strictly parenting books, but books that have helped me be a better parent.
For context, my kids are 4 and 7, so a few of these target young children. If you have teenagers, well, I’ll be looking to you for advice in a few years. However, not all of these are age specific, and I think parents of kids of any age will find at least one to enjoy.
How to Talk So Little Kids Will Listen by Joanna Faber and Julie King. I read this a couple years ago, but I still remember how helpful it was. It really is a survival guide, and in an ideal world I could carry this book with me at all times to reference any time my kids are driving me crazy. I like the way this book is organized, with each chapter going into detail about a different topic (engaging cooperation, resolving conflict, etc.) and at the end summarizes with important points to remember and examples to use. I recommend this book to any parent of a young child.
Siblings without Rivalry by Adele Faber. I loved this when I read it, and as my kids get older I’m realizing I need to read it again. For me it was especially helpful since I grew up as an only child. In my opinion the best parenting books are those that have practical, actionable advice rather than vague theories, and this one is cram-packed with the former. I highlighted and bookmarked the heck out of this one.
No Bad Kids by Janet Lansbury. I’ve been listening to Janet Lansbury on her podcast, Unruffled, for years. I think her respectful approach to parenting is helpful, and when I make an effort to implement what she teaches I find it to be very effective. It’s not always easy to remain calm and unruffled, yet empathetic, in the moment, but this book really broke down the advice she gives on her podcast and gave me lots of practical tips. Her focus is on toddlers, but I found most of what she discusses still very applicable with Violet, who still acts like a toddler still challenges me with her behavior.
The Read-Aloud Family by Sarah Mackenzie. Sarah Mackenzie’s podcast, Read-Aloud Revival, is one of the first podcasts I listened to regularly, and it’s one I still look forward to each week. While this isn’t technically a parenting book, I do recommend it for any parent hoping to share a love of reading with their child. She talks about the value of reading aloud at home, and addresses many of the challenges that go with trying to make time and space for read-alouds. She makes practical suggestions based on the ages of your children, and even provides ideas for how to talk to your kids about the books they’re reading. I love that I can put her ideas to practice right now, with kids ages 7 and 4, but there will still be valuable information to refer to as Jona and Violet get older as well. If you are a parent and would like to get more out of your read-aloud time, please read this book!
Bringing Up Bebe by Pamela Druckerman. The author of this book is an American journalist who lives in Paris and eventually has a family there. Even before she has children of her own, she notices a marked difference between the norms of French and American child rearing. So much of what she learned about French parenting seems like common sense, but it was interesting to read and compare to what’s expected of parents in American culture. I read this before I had kids, so I’m sure my perspective has changed, but I still think this book is a valuable read.
How to Be a Happier Parent by KJ Dell’Antonia. I also included this book in my round-up of personal development books, because it focuses more on you as the parent than on the children. However, parenting is obviously the central topic of the book. It discusses common parenting challenges, such as chores, screen time, homework, and food. Rather than thinking about how to change the child’s behavior around the struggle, she suggests how the parent may be able to approach the situation differently in order to get different results. Realistically, the only behavior we have true power to change is our own, so I appreciated this perspective.
Mindset by Carol Dweck. This book is about the growth mindset, and why adopting this mindset, rather than a fixed mindset, will get you much further in life. I completely agree, and I strive to adopt this mindset in all areas of my life and hope to teach it to my kids. While I felt this book was a little long and repetitive, what has stuck with me is how this mindset has changed the way I parent. I want to foster this mindset in Jona and Violet, and help them embrace challenge. This isn’t a parenting book in the traditional sense, but I think understanding the growth mindset helps me as a mom.
Chasing Slow by Erin Loechner. This isn’t a traditional parenting book either, but I really identified with her perspective as a mother, and that constant pull to do more, more, more. Loechner’s words about deliberately slowing down were both a comfort and a revelation. Because she is also a busy mom and feels those same pulls, I appreciated her authentic story of “chasing slow” more than a more prescriptive approach from someone further removed from the demands of motherhood. If you’re a parent who is exhausted by the constant demands of work-, mom-, and personal-life, this book is for you.
Are there any parenting books you love that you would add to this list?
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