Description
“Simple, smart, and effective solutions to your child’s struggles.”—Harvey Karp, M.D.
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.
Complete with age-appropriate strategies for dealing with day-to-day struggles and illustrations that will help you explain these concepts to your child, The Whole-Brain Child shows you how to cultivate healthy emotional and intellectual development so that your children can lead balanced, meaningful, and connected lives.
“[A] useful child-rearing resource for the entire family . . . The authors include a fair amount of brain science, but they present it for both adult and child audiences.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Strategies for getting a youngster to chill out [with] compassion.”—The Washington Post
“This erudite, tender, and funny book is filled with fresh ideas based on the latest neuroscience research. I urge all parents who want kind, happy, and emotionally healthy kids to read The Whole-Brain Child. This is my new baby gift.”—Mary Pipher, Ph.D., author of Reviving Ophelia and The Shelter of Each Other
“Gives parents and teachers ideas to get all parts of a healthy child’s brain working together.”—Parent to Parent
Every parent should read it!
Extremely insightful and well written guidance on how to help my kids better integrate (and good words for me too!).
Having read about half a dozen or so books specifically on childhood development and another dozen or so on stoicism and other mental health practices, I’ve concluded that this is THE authoritative book that every parent should read at least once. First off, the way it is written is very casual and familiar, which makes it very accessible to anyone who is even remotely literate. Second, the concepts featured are easy to understand and explained in a a very succinct way. Third, it isn’t a laundry list of techniques; its a topical analysis of the most effective methods on how to connect with your children emotionally and logically. And fourth (a big one for me), this isn’t a “how you’re screwed up mentally, so fix yourself first” book. Any parent can read this book and pick up the techniques and apply them immediately. There’s no “blame yourself first, then address the issue” cathartic flagellation message here.
As I worked my way through the book, I tried the techniques on my 2.5 year old and it was pretty much miraculous. I already had a good relationship with her, but connecting on a different level was rewarding as a parent. It helped me help her work through tantrums, difficult or scary situations, and find ways to effectively problem solve on her own. This book doesn’t just empower us parents, it empowers our children too, which should be the end goal of every parent.
The book is a quick read (I finished it in about a week working full time and with 4 kids in the household), so its very accessible. The content is immediately useful and non-judgemental. As my review title suggests, if there were only one book us parents could read about child development and the role we as parents play in that development, it needs to be this book.
One of my favorite books of all time. Just a well-written, helpful book.
Hands down everyone should read this book regardless if you have children or not!
This book is written in an easy to read way while also explaining neurobiology and ways to help nurture children. Whether you are a teacher, therapist, parent or caretaker, I think this book is vital.