June 23, 2016
Summer Reading: The Modern Parent’s Edition
It is not easy to be a parent in 2016. It’s never been easy to be a parent, truthfully, but it’s really not easy to be a parent in an age where media has gone insane, is totally taking over our lives, and is giving our children more widespread, unfiltered, and unrestricted access to the world than ever before.
Because summer is partially for books on the beach, here are some books geared that speak to the plights of the modern parent. They’re definitely on our list.
Unselfie. This book examines a scary truth: is selfie culture making our children selfish? “It’s finding ways to make sure there are opportunities where your child won’t lose the critical core skills of not only empathy but connection and social skills. We’ve failed to realize that all of those social skills are learned and they need practice. What we’re not doing is helping our kids practice.”
How to Raise an Adult. This book encourages parents to break free of the millennial “over-parenting” trap, while preparing them for success. “In How to Raise an Adult, Julie Lythcott-Haims draws on research, on conversations with admissions officers, educators, and employers, and on her own insights as a mother and as a student dean to highlight the ways in which overparenting harms children, their stressed-out parents, and society at large. While empathizing with the parental hopes and, especially, fears that lead to overhelping, Lythcott-Haims offers practical alternative strategies that underline the importance of allowing children to make their own mistakes and develop the resilience, resourcefulness, and inner determination necessary for success.”
No-Drama Discipline. Dealing with tantrums, tempers, and tears…without causing a scene. “Defining the true meaning of the “d” word (to instruct, not to shout or reprimand), the authors explain how to reach your child, redirect emotions, and turn a meltdown into an opportunity for growth. By doing so, the cycle of negative behavior (and punishment) is essentially brought to a halt, as problem solving becomes a win/win situation.”
The Whole Brain Child. “In this pioneering, practical book, Daniel J. Siegel, neuropsychiatrist and author of the bestselling Mindsight, 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 authors explain—and make accessible—the new science of how a child’s brain is wired and how it matures. 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.”
What are you reading this summer?
