Kids Development

Middle school is its own important, distinct territory, and yet it's either written off as an uncomfortable rite of passage or lumped in with other developmental phases. Based on her many years working in schools, professional counselor Phyllis Fagell sees these years instead as a critical stage that parents can't afford to ignore (and though "middle school" includes different grades in various regions, Fagell maintains that the ages make more of a difference than the setting).

Just as sturdy scaffolding is necessary when erecting a building and will come down when the structure grows stable, good parenting provides children with steady and warm emotional nourishment on the path toward independence. Never-ending parental problem-solving and involvement can have the opposite effect, enabling fragility and anxiety over time.

Most kids get their first smartphone at the same time that they're experiencing major developmental changes. Making mistakes has always been a part of growing up, but how do parents help their kids navigate childhood and adolescence at a time when social media has the potential to magnify the consequences of those mistakes? Rather than spend all their time worrying about the worst-case scenario, listeners get a bigger-picture understanding of their kids' digital landscape.

Today's youth-sports experience provokes countless questions for well-intentioned parents. How young should kids start playing sports? Should they specialize—and when? What should a parent do when their kid is not getting the playing time they think their child deserves? How do parents encourage children without overwhelming them? Raising Empowered Athletes has answers for every youth-sports situation with an overarching goal of not only helping parents raise strong athletes but also nurture great human beings who are empowered to succeed on and off the playing field.

The Fatherhood Roadmap offers real, relatable advice from one dad to another—without lectures or fluff. This approachable guide gives you tools to embrace fatherhood with confidence.

Are you dealing with a difficult ex who’s ruining your kids’ childhoods? Does it feel impossible to be happy because of this, not being able to see a way out? Are the challenges of co-parenting too difficult that you feel lost and hopeless? You probably feel like you want to scream from the top of a mountain or pull your hair out because of the stress.

Confident Parents, Confident Kids lays out an approach for helping parents - and the kids they love - hone their emotional intelligence so they can make wise choices, connect, and communicate well with others (even when patience wears thin), and become socially competent, confident human beings.

It may shock you to learn that we spend an average of four to seven minutes outside each day—while we spend four to seven hours using devices with screens. Needless to say, our physical, mental, emotional, and relational health has suffered. But there is a ready solution: get outside!

Too many parenting books are heavy on the clinical advice, but way too light on practical strategies and everyday inspiration. Isn't it time for a parenting book that is both practical and inspirational? Destini Ann Davis is a working mom who has read dozens of parenting books and made all the typical parenting mistakes before realizing that in order to have a peaceful, positive relationship with her kids, she first needed to have a peaceful, positive relationship with herself. Very Intentional Parenting features a fresh, down-to-earth approach from someone you can relate to.

What is the difference between the kid who struggles to "adult" and the one who jumps in feet first, ready to thrive? It all comes down to mindsets, skillsets, and toolsets. Either we as parents raise kids who are dependent on us or we raise kids who are confident, capable, and eager to take on the challenges of an independent adult life.

Parenting doesn’t stop when your kids grow up—it just takes a new shape, and it’s up to us as parents to lean into that change with intention. Mastering Parenting Adult Children is a heartfelt and practical guide for those ready to enter this next season with empathy, wisdom, and a touch of humor. Whether you’re learning to let go, navigating delicate boundaries, or seeking to build deeper, more authentic connections with your adult children, this book offers a supportive roadmap to help you thrive in your evolving role.

Transform Your Parenting Journey with the Ultimate No-Yelling Solution Are you exhausted from constant yelling, power struggles, and the guilt that follows? Do you dream of a peaceful home where your kids listen, respect, and thrive emotionally? It's time to say goodbye to frustration and hello to Anger-Free Parenting—the 2-in-1 solution bundle that changes everything.

Based on many years’ experience counselling bullies and targets, Stella O’Malley offers concrete strategies to empower children and teenagers to deal confidently with bullying and dominant characters. We can’t always be there to protect our kids as they make their way in the world. What we can do is equip them with the tools they need to ensure they have a positive social experience. Based on many years’ experience counselling bullies and targets, O’Malley offers concrete strategies to empower children and teenagers to deal confidently with bullying and dominant characters.

Our culture tells parents there's one best way to raise kids: enroll them in a dozen activities, protect them from trauma, and get them into the most expensive college you can. If you can't do that, don't bother. How is that going? Record rates of anxiety, depression, medication, debts, loneliness and more. In Family Unfriendly, bestselling author and Washington Examiner columnist Timothy P. Carney says it's time to end this failed experiment in overparenting.

This book is for the parent who wants to understand pediatric anxiety to its core. Written and narrated in a way that is digestible for anyone, the approach is realistic and easy to implement. Anxiety runs on a spectrum where various techniques work better than others - which is why this book is packed with coping strategies for different times, places, and situations suited to fit a range of children’s needs.

Is school for your kids a resounding success? For most of us, education was an uncomfortable process of sitting in stifling classrooms, listening to tedious lectures, struggling over stressful exams, and feeling like we were wasting our time and energy. There were class clowns, ruthless bullies, teacher’s pets, popular kids, and students no one wanted to be around.

In the blink of an eye, our kids will be adults facing countless serious threats—climate change, gun violence, political polarization, and disinformation, to name but a few. We’re not going to be able to solve all these intractable problems before our kids grow up—so how are we to prepare them for an impossibly complex and scary future? Plagued by this question, award-winning science journalist Melinda Wenner Moyer interviewed parenting experts and researchers across multiple fields—psychology, education, information literacy, technology, business, and even addiction.

Imagine a scenario where your child is struggling to make friends at school, feeling isolated and unsure of how to approach others. You observe their frustration and wish you could provide the guidance they need to navigate social situations successfully. As a parent or educator, you recognize the importance of equipping children with the necessary social skills to thrive in their interactions with others. In today's fast-paced and interconnected world, social problem-solving skills are essential for building strong relationships and fostering empathy. Social Skills for Kids offers ...

Watching his father struggle to support his family through bigotry and other challenges in being an Italian immigrant, Tom Golisano learned early on the value of thinking outside the box and not letting perception sway your view of reality. Now, for the first time, Golisano shares the political shenanigans, behind-the-scenes stories, significant characters from his remarkable life, and key insights to thrive in your career.

You don’t need to have the perfect relationship with your ex for the kids to be happy. Life can be better for you after separation or divorce. Some couples aren’t meant to stay together.