I have read LOTS of books over the years in hopes of gleaning bits of information that in the past would help me parent my own sons, and in the now, looking for strategies to support the children and their parents that put their trust in me as a professional.

In all of that reading, there are just three books (other than the social-emotional series I’ve co-authored 🙂 that are the ones I recommend to parents over and over again.

The very first is Ross Greene’s The Explosive Child. Even if a child is not outwardly defiant or explosive, the process of Collaborative and Pro-Active Solutions (also known as Collaborative Problem Solving) was an absolute lifesaver for my own needs and experience as a parent. Not only is it a parenting tool of the most powerful kind, but it is also simply the best communication process for any human situation at work, with family, and just, well, anywhere and anytime!

The second is Growing Up Brave by Donna Pincus. If your child struggles or suffers from anxiety, this is the book for you. It’s loaded with cognitive behavioral interventions that you can do yourself at home and will deepen your understanding of anxiety in children and teens.

Lastly, is the Out-of-Sync Child by Carol Stock Kranowitz. I would venture to say close to 100% of the kids that attend Peter Pan have some sort of sensory component at play, and sensory challenges are frequently the first sign that a young child is in need of extra support. She has also written companion books The Out-Sync-Child Has Fun (full of activities to create a sensory diet) and The Out-Sync-Child Grows Up to address the sensory needs of teens.