Parenting Panel: Fav Parenting Books
We asked 4 parenting pros in the community some of our burning questions.
Today’s Question:
What are your favourite parenting books and why?
Cori Stern, MA, OCT, BCBA
Cori is a Learning Specialist and Behaviour Therapist, and business owner. She’s also a Mother of a 6 & 4 year old.
“Call me crazy but I absolutely love Tracy Hogg’s book The Baby Whisperer Solve All Your Problems. I think it’s a great resource for parents to really provide structure around parenting and an understanding of how children learn to behave in certain ways from such a young age. It sets a great foundation to the parenting journey.”
Dr. Jill Shuster, Ph.D., C.Psych.
Dr. Shuster is a Clinical and School Psychologist who works with children and adolescents in private practice at The Possibilities Clinic and at the Toronto District School Board. Dr. Shuster is a mother to two young children.
“I’m a huge fan of Dr. Dan Siegel’s work and I particularly like No-Drama Discipline and The Whole Brain Child. I love how Dr. Siegel combines evidence-based principles with easy to use strategies. For example, one of his slogans, ‘Connect, then redirect’ can be really helpful when our children are struggling and need our help.
I also really like Dr. Ross Greene’s work with Collaborative and Proactive Solutions and his book The Explosive Child. While I use some of these principles more in my clinical work, one of his beliefs, ‘kids do well when they can’ often informs how I approach my children when they are struggling. They’re not tantruming to be jerks or ruin our plans, they’re lacking the skills to do better in that moment.”
Tia Slightham
Tia is a teacher, business owner (Tia Slightham Parenting Solutions), best selling author (You’ve Got This Mama, Too) and “most importantly a mom” to two boys.
“There are just so many great books out there. Two books that I feel are easy to read and implement into your daily parenting are:
Scream Free Parenting by Hal Edward Runkel, LMFT
How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber & Elaine Mazlish”
Dr. Jemma Helfman, PsyD, C.Psych.
Dr. Helfman is a mother and clinical psychologist working in private practice at Kidcrew in Toronto, Ontario.
“The Incredible Years by Carolyn Webster-Stratton.
I love it because it is easy to read and outlines a very clear “pyramid model” in which positive interactions are at the bottom of the pyramid and need to be happening the most. It gives clear and memorable ideas and examples that are easy to implement.
I depart views somewhat on the issue of time out, which is included in the book, though. I think that time outs work for some children as a time to calm down. However, I have also seen that time outs can become a huge battle between parents and children and increase disruptive behaviours. For those children, I recommend time ins if possible (sitting near them or with them on your lap and helping them to regulate and calm down)and/or moving people and objects away from the child so that you give the message that you are not going to let them hurt anyone or break anything. ”
Check back here as we ask the experts our burning parenting questions!
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