Parenting Books Worth Reading

christadiserio:  I read this book while pregnant and it was so encouraging. I recommend it to all the new mamas out there looking for ways for how to help your child adapt to YOUR life and have it not always be the other way around.

Vanessa M.:  Gary Chapman's blockbuster book, The Five Love Languages, revolutionized the way we thought about romantic relationships. Chapman adapts his wisdom for parents in his book, The Five Love Languages of Children. Discover your child's unique love language, establish a closer connection, and learn how to utilize that knowledge to parent your child in a more loving and effective way.

Vanessa M.:  If you've encountered the wise advice to create 3 jars for your children's pocket money (one to spend, one to save, one to give), this advice comes from Ron Lieber's highly received book. This bestseller focuses on teaching little ones financial lessons, but also incorporates methods parents can use to teach their young ones age-appropriate responsibility, gratitude, and generosity. In our material/consumeristic society, this book can be a breath of fresh air for parents who are looking for ways to protect their children from being spoiled.

Neuropsychiatrist Daniel J. Siegel and parenting expert Tina Payne Bryson discuss the development of a child's brain and how it affects moods and actions. They also provide strategies that equip parents with helpful techniques to deal with their child's challenging behavior.

Kelly R:  I hadn't read a parenting book in the years since my first child was a baby, but this one spoke to me. KJ Dell'Antonia knows that maximizing the joy in parenting is about more than an attitude change. It's about implementing smart strategies to improve the problem areas in family life (screen time, homework, mornings) and leave more room for happiness. This book is filled with practical advice based on Dell'Antonia's own experience and research, delivered in a way that is likable, empowering, and entirely judgment-free. I'm going to read it again (once my husband finishes it).

Amy S.:  It is hard for me to feel comfortable and at peace in a messy home, and kids really bring the mess. We happily live in a small space, but the limited square footage is a challenge with two kids and all their stuff. This book helps you assess your own thinking about the things you own and provides strategies for eliminating clutter and maintaining it. Significantly, it also outlines ways to help your children learn to let go of the things that are no longer really needed or even wanted. Minimalism isn’t for everyone, but I think this book would be useful for anyone who is looking to create space for a happier, calmer home.

Eye-opening bestseller for parents that investigates the impact of smartphones, social media and technology on kids' mental health.

Michael Farina:  One of my wife’s closest friends gifted us this book, about 3 months before I became a father. Through a series of funny, heartwarming anecdotes I took away the following messages: there will be hard times, you will make mistakes, don’t be so hard on yourself, and it’s all worth it.

Amy S.:  If you are looking to infuse more creativity and art making into your family life, this book is the best place to start. It is filled with with great art ideas and recipes, and most of the projects are simple enough for even toddlers. The art in this book is process-driven and open-ended, which frees up little artists to experiment, do what feels good, and have fun. No more coloring inside the lines! Even if you don’t get the book, you have to check out the blog by the same name and try raised salt watercolor painting and using rubbing alcohol drops on wet watercolor to create amazing effects.