My Top 4 Books on Parenting
Parenting is a process of constant change and development. As a parent, by the time your child has reached one milestone and you start to feel confident about your role, something changes and process starts over again. There is no perfect parenting manual, however, here are my top 3 books that I think come alongside the role of parenting and help grow our skillset and knowledge base.
Number 4: Raising Good Humans by Hunter Clark-Fields:
This book is a great read, especially for parents that feel overwhelmed and emotionally reactive at times throughout the day. Hunter uses the concepts of mindfulness to teach parents lessons of emotional attunement and regulation that help both parents and children.
Number 3: Raising An Emotionally Intelligent Child by John Gottman
Gottman’s book emphasizes the importance of emotional coaching. He outlines methods for parents to teach their children about emotions, helping them to understand and manage their feelings. This book provides valuable tools for fostering a child's emotional awareness and shows how emotional intelligence can impact their relationships and overall well-being. I love this book for its emphasis on modeling emotional regulation as a means to teach our children healthy management of emotion.
Number 2: Parenting by Paul David Tripp.
I love this book to help start conversations about creating spiritual goals in parenting. As Christian parents, it is so important that we are parenting with the Gospel as the centerpiece. This book is thought provoking, creating questions that parents can wrestle with as they pursue parenting with a Christian lens.
Number 1: The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt.
If you have had a conversation with me in 2024, then we have probably talked about this book. Jonathan Haidt has written the most concise, data driven, book on what handheld technology and social media has created in our children, teens, and young adults. A incredible resource for all parents and professional. If you read one book in 2024, let it be this one.
Parenting is journey! You do not have to be an expert to be a thoughtful, engaged, and intentional parent.These books serve as resources for parents seeking to enhance their emotional skills and create nurturing environments where children can thrive emotionally. I am here to help encourage you on your journey. I would love to hear what parenting topics you would like to see covered on the blog.
Jennifer C. Davis, LPC, LCMHC