Kids Development

Michele Borba has been a teacher, educational consultant, and parent for 40 years - and she's never been more worried than she is about this current generation of kids. The high-achieving students she talks with every day are more accomplished, better educated, and more privileged than ever before. They're also more stressed, unhappier, and struggling with anxiety, depression, and burnout at younger and younger ages - "we're like pretty packages with nothing inside," said one young teen.

One of the very best scientific predictors for how any child turns out - in terms of happiness, academic success, leadership skills, and meaningful relationships - is whether at least one adult in their life has consistently shown up for them. In an age of scheduling demands and digital distractions, showing up for your child might sound like a tall order. But as best-selling authors Daniel Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson reassuringly explain, it doesn’t take a lot of time, energy, or money. Instead, showing up means offering a quality of presence.

Has your child experienced racial aggression, bullying, or harassment? Have they ever asked you why they are treated differently? If so, you are not alone. Discrimination and racism in society are a constant stressor and painful topic of conversation for many Black families. In this much-needed resource for parents of Black children, race and mental health expert Erlanger Turner combines evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) skills with mindfulness and liberation psychology to help your kids cope with race-based stress, challenge systemic oppression and marginalization, and thrive.

Could it really be okay to let kids eat whatever they want? Sleep whenever they want? Watch whatever they want? If kids are completely free to make their own choices, they’ll develop damaging habits that will haunt them into adulthood. Surely parents have a duty to set a few limits. But what if this conventional wisdom is wrong? What if our deepest ideas of how learning works, how knowledge grows, and the nature of personhood all point to the brute fact that parenting philosophies have missed a critical detail?

Whether your goal is to prepare your child for a healthy relationship to technology or to curb unhealthy amounts of time spent gaming, How to Raise a Healthy Gamer will help you better understand, communicate with, and—ultimately—empower your gaming enthusiast to live their best life.

Some 75% of American families want their kids to play sports. Athletics are training grounds for character, friendship, and connection; at their best, sports insulate kids from hardship and prepare them for adult life. But youth sports have changed so dramatically over the last 25 years that they no longer deliver the healthy outcomes everyone wants. Instead, unbeknownst to most parents, kids who play competitive organized sports are more likely to burn out or suffer from overuse injuries than to develop their characters or build healthy habits. What happened to kids' sports?

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.

Saying goodbye to a child as they leave the nest and learn to fly ushers parents into an emotional time of grief, joy, and nostalgia. Release My Grip, by popular blogger Kami Gilmour, offers inspiration and practical insight as she reveals the surprising truth she learned while knee-deep in this sacred season of parenthood. Often humorous and always honest and hope-filled, these stories have equipped and encouraged the hearts of millions on the popular SoulFeed blog.

From a Harvard faculty member and oral language specialist, an invaluable guide that gives listeners evidence-based tools and techniques to communicate more effectively with children in ways that let them foster relationships with less conflict and more joy and kindness.

Children who have been adopted and/or shuttled through the foster-care system experience trauma at a much higher rate than other kids, which can make it difficult for them to trust, relax, regulate their emotions, and connect with their new families. As a parent, learning how to heal attachment trauma, attune to your child's needs, identify triggers, and create felt safety is essential to providing the loving, supportive, and stable home they need to thrive. Written for parents of adopted and foster kids of all ages, this book offers resources for handling common concerns.

In The New Childhood, Jordan Shapiro provides a hopeful counterpoint to the fearful hand-wringing that has come to define our narrative around children and technology. Drawing on groundbreaking research in economics, psychology, philosophy, and education, The New Childhood shows how technology is guiding humanity toward a bright future in which our children will be able to create new, better models of global citizenship, connection, and community.

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.

Do you want to raise a happy, healthy, and successful child? Do you want to help them develop self-control and self-awareness? Do you want your child's relationship skills to be sharp and intuitive? If so, this is the right book for you! Did you know that emotional intelligence is more relevant to success, health, and happiness than intellectual skills? Did you know that, regardless of how much money you have or invest in your child, your teachings about how to cope with feelings affect their life the most?

Do you wish there was a way to raise well-behaved children without punishment? Are you afraid the only alternative is being overly indulgent? With Positive Discipline, an encouragement model based on both kindness and firmness, you don't have to choose between these two extremes. Using these 49 Positive Discipline tools honed and perfected after years of real-world research and feedback, you'll be able to work with your children instead of against them.

Ever wondered what would happen if you took your autistic three-year-old on a haunted ghost ride? Or what your reaction would be if your seven-year-old grabbed a stranger’s backfat in the changing rooms? Wonder no more! Raising the SEN-Betweeners is a very honest guide for all those parents in similar shoes, navigating the challenges, joys and hilariously unpredictable moments every day. If that is you, this book will make one thing very clear: you are not alone.

Is “joy-building” the secret to raising mature healthy kids? Joy-filled kids aren’t always happy kids, but they do know how to work for and wait for what is truly satisfying in life. In The 4 Habits of Raising Joy-Filled Kids, you will discover a tool box full of skills that you can use with your children to help them grow in maturity and live with greater joy.

No Bad Kids presents Janet Lansbury’s signature approach to discipline, which she sees as a parent's act of compassion and love for a child. Full of wisdom and encouragement, it covers all your common toddler concerns, such as why toddlers need clear boundaries (and how to set them without shouting), advice for parenting a strong-willed child, how to be a gentle leader, and Lansbury’s secret for staying calm.

Do you have a tween aged 8-12 years who needs a little help to unlock their true potential and navigate the challenges of growing up with confidence and positivity? Then look no further! Life Skills for Tweens: A Short Guide to Mastering Self-Esteem, Developing Healthy Friendships, and Personal Growth, is a powerful, easy-to-understand guide designed to help tweens overcome challenges and build confidence. This book offers practical advice on: Handling peer pressure Setting effective goals Developing resilience. Fostering self-esteem Nurturing healthy relationships Utilizing mindfulness ...

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.

Early and social interaction skills are essential for every child to get the best start in life. Skills like language, eye contact, and self-regulation are just some of the things your child needs in order to excel - personally and academically! Since the pandemic, both parents and teachers are becoming more concerned about children’s abilities to interact. On top of that, there are delays in referrals to specialists. As early interaction is so important, you are probably thinking that you don’t have the qualifications to make a difference. This is not true!