Explores the emotional relationship between parents and children and offers a five-step "emotional coaching" process to help children to recognise, express and address their feelings. 

Focusing on children from five to fifteen, the book describes a method called "emotional coaching", which shows parents how to help their children learn how to solve problems, develop social skills, express feelings, understand others and manage emotions. Also provides children with skills to help them to manage peer pressure in adolescence. Recommended!

New!!

Raising Self-Reliant Children in a Self-indulgent World: Seven Building Blocks for Developing Capable Young People by H. Stephen Glen, Jane Nelsen.

How to help your children become responsible and accountable individuals with a strong sense of self-worth. Practical and easy to follow!

New!!

Kids Are Worth It! : Giving Your Child the Gift of Inner Discipline by Barbara Colorosa.

Helps parents to discipline children in a positive and empowering way. The author describes three types of parents - Jellyfish, Brickwall and Backbone! Which type are you? Informative, practical and fun!

New!!

How to Behave So Your Children Will, Too! by Sal Severe

A handbook for parents on taking control and disciplining children with dignity. This book has lots of ideas and exercises and is especially useful for the first-time parent, although all parents will find it a good handbook for managing their children and themselves!

NEW!

Don't Give In, Give Choices : Winning Your Child's Cooperation by Pat Holt, Grace Ketterman.

How to avoid power struggles with your child in order that (s)he can learn self-discipline and decision-making. Well-worth the read.

NEW!

Nurturing Your Child with Music: How Sound Awareness Creates Happy, Smart and Confident Children  by John M. Ortiz.

Using music to create and nurture relaxed and productive home environments and as an aid to parenting. A wonderful book which shows parents how music can be used from the womb to adulthood. Toddlers can use music to learn about themselves and their ABC's, while teenagers can smooth their emotional ups and downs and establish their own identities.

NEW!

How to Set Limits : Defining Appropriate Boundaries of Behaviour for Your Children - from Infants to Teens  by Elizabeth C Vinton.

Firm, loving and consistent limit setting and enforcement is one of the most important parenting skills. The author is a paediatrician and mother of three grown children.

Father Courage : What Happens When Men Put Family First by Suzanne Braun Levin.

Through comprehensive studies and interviews, this work explores the changing face of fatherhood and the effect it can have on the family. It is interesting both in examining the quest to be "the fathers we wish we had", as well as the nurturing role of men in the family. In true journalistic style (the author is one of the founding editors of Ms magazine) Levin examines all sides of the revolution, including its effect on women and mothers. An interesting book which would make a useful and informative addition to the home library of all caring families!

The Birth of a Mother : How the Motherhood Experience Changes You Forever  by Daniel Stern.

Birth signals a new stage of life for both the new baby and the woman who gives birth. Entry into motherhood is one of those special times which will change your life forever and allow you to experience feelings and growth you had never thought possible.

A "well-stocked" book full of useful information on all aspects of fatherhood, from birth to teenage years. A great gift for new and even not-so-new dads!

Becoming a Father : How to Nurture and Enjoy Your Family   by William Sears.

(with special reference to pregnancy and the first few months of your child's life) The title speaks for itself!

Nighttime Parenting : How to Get Your Baby and Child to Sleep by William Sears.       

Excellent book which helps parents to understand the sleeping patterns, needs and habits of babies and young children. (and what can go wrong!) If you thought you'd never get an unbroken night's sleep again, read this book!  A caring approach to an age-old problem!

Annie Stories    by Doris Brett, Stella Chess.

A well-written and reassuring book that helps young children to understand and express their feelings and anxieties by using the therapeutic art of story-telling. Recommended for all parents and their children!

Why Doesn't Anybody Like Me? : A Guide to Raising Socially Confident Kids    by Hara Estroff Marano.

Which parent hasn't heard this (or a variation of it) at some time or other? Children (like all of us) want to be liked and accepted. The author helps parents to encourage confidence, self esteem in their children and offers many useful suggestions and ways of improving their social and communication skills. A good grounding for future relationships.

How to Really Love Your Child    by Ross Campbell.

Written from a Christian perspective, this book explores how to spiritually nurture and demonstrate love and affection while still guiding your children, disciplining them and setting limits.

Back in Control : How to Get Your Children to Behave by Gregory Bodenhamer.                     

A good guide for parents who are feeling out of control as well as for those who just want to learn consistent and effective discipline skills. Deals with real-life situations from refusing to do chores to outright rebellion and aggression. Parent Empowerment!

Backtalk : Four Steps to Ending Rude Behaviour in Your Kids  by Audrey Ricker, Carolyn Crowder.

Verbal rudeness is a huge barrier to effective communication and closeness between parents and children. Kids are encouraged by the media to speak "smart", but this kind of communication is far from cute!   Recommended.

8 Weeks to a Well-Behaved Child : A Failsafe Program for Toddlers Through Teens   by James Windell.

Any "failsafe" program needs to be read with intelligence and discretion (as I discovered every time I tried to bake a "flop-proof" chocolate cake!). But this is a book full of practical advice using real-life examples for discipline problems ranging from simple disobedience to juvenile delinquency.

Toughlove   by Phyllis York, David York, Ted Wachtel.

About taking responsibility and becoming an accountable, consistent and loving parent.   Well worth reading, especially for parents struggling to set limits and define and enforce acceptable behaviour.

Mom's Guide to Disciplining Your Child   by Ericka Lutz, Vicki Poretta.

Light-hearted and humorous, but also to the point and useful! (A good combination, I think!) While disciplining is a focal point, other topics are included - like communicating with your child and dealing with subjects like sex, drugs and alcohol.

Disciplining Your Preschooler : And Feeling Good About It  by Susan K Golant.                       

A good resource for all parents of pre-schoolers. Also aimed at two-career families.

Books on ADD/ADHD

The A.D.D. Book : New Understandings, New Approaches to Parenting Your Child   by William Sears & Lynda Thompson.

A constructive guide by a pediatrician and an expert on A.D.D. children. Both potentially positive and potentially negative symptoms of A.D.D. are explored and parents are helped to understand and guide their children to their full potential while, at the same time, learning effective ways of managing their A.D.D. child.

Learning to Slow Down and Pay Attention: A Book for Kids About ADD  by Kathleen G Nadeau, Ellen B. Dixon, John Rose.

Instead of TELLING children to "slow down and pay attention", this book SHOWS them HOW to do it!  (For children from 9 - 12, although some younger children would benefit from reading this book with their parents)

Distant Drums, Different Drummers : A Guide for Young People With ADHD   by Barbara D Ingersoll. 

Written for children and teenagers with ADHD and aimed at helping them view ADHD from a more positive perspective. The book stresses the value of individual differences and helps children and teenagers face the special challenges of ADHD in a creative and positive manner. Highly recommended for children from 10 to 16!  

No More Ritalin : Treating Adhd Without Drugs by Dr Mary Ann Block. (A Mother's Journey. A Physician's Approach)

An excellent book written from the point of view of a mother and a doctor. Dr Block writes well and explores the many possible underlying causes of ADHD symptoms as well as the alternatives to drug therapy. Easy to read, clear and informative.

Eagle Eyes : A Child's Guide to Paying Attention   by Jeanne Gehret, Susan Covert.

For children from 9 - 12, this is a story about a hero who also happens to have ADHD. It is an entertaining read for this age group and also helps other children understand children with ADHD.