As a parent, one of the topmost priorities in my life is to give my kids a good education and see them grow into happy, fully functional adults. Parenting skills are not something we inherit or are just born with. For some, educating their kids in the same way their parents taught them might be good enough, but times change and what worked 20 or 30 years back is likely not as ideal in today’s environment.
Here are some of the best books I’ve found on parenting. There are many subtopics, and if your child has particular traits that you identify early on, it pays to read books about those particular challenges, and also seek help when needed.
- Emotional Development and Discipline:
- Parent-Child Communication and Collaboration:
- Happiness and Well-being:
- Managing and Understanding Challenging Behaviors:
- Passing on Life Lessons
While I stress the importance of reading books and similar resources to help develop parenting skills, you should also approach parenting with an open mind and be flexible. When your gut feeling tells you that it is worth trying a new approach, it’s usually worth a shot. Books can only get you so far, it is the parent that knows their child best (if they are spending enough time with them in the first place), therefore being willing to think outside of the box is also an important skill to have when bringing up children.
I’ve personally found that having a like-minded peer group of parents is also very helpful, especially when you need support on a particularly tough situation that you feel unable to handle. Schools also play a crucial role, so make sure you make the right choice for your kids, else you might find yourself fighting a losing fight against the school’s teachings and friends’ peer pressure.
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