What's the Best Book You've Read on Parenting?

Ask many have said, Love and logic is a winner, but I also like "Supernanny", "Power of a Positive Mom", and "How to talk to Kids so Kids will Listen, How to Listen so Kids will talk".

Since you have a two year old - Love & Logic for Toddlers. There is also just Love & Logic Parenting, Love & Logic for Teenagers, and several more. Wonderful approach to parenting!!!!!

Definitely "Parenting with love and Logic" there is a younger child version for toddlers and up, I can't remember the specific title, but if you search you should find it. Good-luck!!!!!
K.

Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp. This book addresses how to deal with the heart issues that cause the behavior. If you just address the behavior there is no real change over the long term.

I also just finished the book "The five languages of love" by Gary Chapman . It is more a book for couples but has a chapter at the end about children. It has been very insightful. Knowing what your child's love language is could abate a lot of unwanted bad behavior. When children feel loved they don't act out as much. The book really shows that no matter how good we are at trying to love our children or mate, if we are not speaking their language, they don't feel loved.

There is a "The Five Love Languages of Children" book by the same author. I haven't read that one, but will be buying it.

I hope this helps. Good luck.

-M.
SAHM of 3, 3 and under :o)

In my parenting class for my Masters degree in Marraige and Family Therapy, we used 1-2-3 Magic by Thomas W. Phelan and Parent Effectiveness Training by Thomas Gordon as our text books. I then used them with my own children and highly recommend them to my Coaching clients.

Hands down it's Always an Ally; Never an Adversary.

http://www.alwaysanally.com/

I will echo what people have said about Love & Logic. There are a few of them - the best for toddlers is "Love & Logic Magic for Early Childhood: Practical Parenting from Birth to Six Years." This book changed my life with my toddlers. When I can remember to do their techniques, it works so well! It teaches you how to deal with specific situations be allowing children to learn from natural consequences. I loved it - easy to read, practical & it works!

Hi. I like Love and Logic. It is based out of Golden and nationally known by a pscyhologist. He is actually doing a conference on Feb 28th in Arvada for 30.00 You can order books/dvds etc from their website but I get them from the library. There are alot to chose from for different ages. I work with kids professionally and have my own. I have used it with both areas and find it great. the website is loveandlogic.com I think. good luck.

1-2-3 Magic! This technique really works, but only if you follow through--no backing off what you say you will do!
Good luck,
S.

Anything by Dr. William Sears!

I have Love and Logic Magic for Early Childhood. I haven't mastered all the techniques, but I really like the Love and Logic approach.

I have to go with the Love and Logic series too. They really are great - I use them with my toddler and my teen. I would also recommend the Baby Whisperer series too. Lots of little tricks in there!

I liked "Dare to Discipline" By Dr. James Dobson and I also liked "She's Gonna Blow" byJulie Ann Barnhill. The first is about learning to discipline lovingly and the other is about how to deal with things as a mom. Julie Barnhill also writes other books to that help moms deal with issues. Check them out :)

We like the Love and Logic sequence!

ditto on L & L but I also have liked the series "Your One Year Old" "Your Two Year Old" etc. by Louise Bates Ames. They really lay out what is normal at each age which is what most of us freak out about. She also has the theory that kids go from a place of equilibrium to dis-equilibrium that can explain a lot about why your kid seems great for a few months and then drives you crazy for a few months!

"The New Strongwilled Child" Is a great one it really hits on all age groups it talks alot about child development and different ways to handle certian behaviors. The stories from other parents are great and lets you know that you're not the only one out there dealing with some of the curveballs our little angels(with horns) throw at us!

Another great book is "Personality Profiles" By Dr. Robert Rhom. He has one for adults and one for children. It's a fun and easy read. Plus it helps you to understand how you, your child and others around you think and what you can do to help them/yourself better communicate and succeed in life.

Best Wishes.
B.

I think it is great that you are asking. You have gotten tons of responses which will give you a lot of reading--

My two cents-- the BEST (and i mean best) and only book you need to read is Children: The Challenge by Rudolf Dreikurs, MD. It predates a lot of the other ones, and is tried and true. Seriously, THE BEST!

As far as activities go I look at the Huggies and pampers website. I also go to mommyandme.com. I like to be able to find something quik and easy to do and not have to search too long to find something. They also have lots of tips and help for parenting issues.
Okay to some this may sound lame but these are the best books for parenting and every other issue in life. The Scriptures have the answers to all of my parenting questions. Whatever your faith there is scripture that helps you understand parenting.

1-2-3- magic is a good one it teaches effective discipline and praise.

Children are Worth it by Barbara Coloroso

Parenting with love and logic by Jim Fay and Foster Cline, it is my parenting bible! Simple, realistic advice that works.

The Baby Whisperer is the best book EVER!! And they also have The Baby Whisperer for Toddlers! Very common sense ans practical but just great ideas and real life examples. I buy it for any new mothers I know. I now cannot remember the author but you should have no problem finding it! Good luck!

Hands down, no questions asked ... it's the only book I've never given away, I just recommend it so I can keep my copy.
KIDS ARE WORTH IT by Barbara Coloroso.

God Bless,
L.

"Love and Logic" by Jim Fay. It helps you help your children by letting them experience the consequences of their actions.

Parenting with Love and Logic
Baby Whisperer for Toddlers

"The Baby Book" by Dr. William Sears and Martha Sears; "The Discipline Book" also by Sears; "How to Talk so Kids will Listen and Listen so Kids will Yalk"--one of my all-time favorites that probably saved my kids' lives!-- "Hold on to Your Kids" by Dr. Gordon Neufeld; and "Adventures in Gentle Discipline" by Hilary Flower.
These books all reflect my personal philosophy of wanting to have a close, healthy relationship with my children and not treat them like my adversaries. One of my favorite quotations about mothering is from Kittie Frantzen: "Remember, you're not managing an inconvenience, yu're raising a human being." These books are not about tricks and manipulations to coerce you child in to doing what you want, they are about strategies to maintain healthy attachment and grow together into toddlerhood and far beyond. So, I tend to skip the mental gymnastics and "1-2-3" stuff and look for books that are well-written and help me honor my instincts while teaching my children to become competent adults.
I also like the book "Unplugged Play" for developmentally-appropriate ideas for fun activities that don't involve buying more stuff or turning on the TV.
Enjoy!

The love and logic series. There is a general book and specific ones for each age group, including toddlers.

All of the Parenting with Love and Logic books are Wonderful!

Hello
I love Children are Worth it by Barbara Coloroso and You Are Your Child's First Teacher by Rahima Baldwin Dancy. The first is about teaching the child inner discipline and gives examples up to teenagers. The second is fantastic for creating a solid loving base for ages birth to 6.

The best baby book is The Baby Book by Dr. William Sears and his wife Martha Sears. It is great, it give good advice and information that is accurate. They have also written many other books on raising children, The Disipline Book is another one of my favorites. In my opinion the WORST baby book ever is Babywize by Gary Enzo, he acctually had to revise his book and re-print it when babies whose parents followed his advice of spacing infant feedings 4 hours apart became malnourished and dehyrated.

I've read "The Happiest Toddler on the Block" and thought it had some great suggestions. You might like it too. It's worth checking out!