Master Gentle Discipline Book Recommendations Thread

[Super Glue Mommy]

Since the request for book recommendations comes up frequently, I figured we could start an ongoing Master List that keeps the books listed with the most recommended books at the top of the list, and perhaps the moderators would consider having it added to the Gentle Discipline Resources Sticky (which also has an alphabetical list with descriptions - check it out!). Just another way to look at book options that some people may prefer.

We could also start discussions on these books in the Book Club Forum, and add the links to those discussions in this thread as well.

Please reply with your Book Recommendations. I will edit the original post to keep an ongoing list, and I will also keep the books listed in order of frequency they are recommended

The Number in Front of the Book Title Represents how many times the Book has been Recommended.

Book Recommendations:
11 Unconditional Parenting
9 Playful Parenting
8 How To Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk
7 Connection Parenting
5 The Continuum Concept
4 Siblings Without Rivalry
4 Adventures in Gentle Discipline
3 Kids, Parents, and Power Struggles
3 Raising Our Children, Raising Ourselves: Transforming Parent-child Relationships from Reaction And Struggle to Freedom, Power And Joy
2 The Explosive Child: A New Approach for Understanding and Parenting Easily Frustrated, Chronically Inflexible Children
2 Parenting from the Inside Out
2 Raising Children Compassionately: Parenting the Nonviolent Communication Way
2 Your Competent Child: Towards New Basic Values for the Family
2 The Discipline Book (Dr Sears)
2 Everyday Blessings: The inner working of the Mindful Parent
2 The Natural Child: parenting from the heart
1 Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child
1 Becoming the Parent You Want to Be
1 Living Joyfully with Children
1 Kids are Worth It
1 Beyond Consequences, Logic and Control
1 The Challenging Child
1 The Secret of Parenting
1 Parenting with Purpose
1 Mom, Jason's Breathing on Me: The Solution to Sibling Bickering
1 With Consent: parenting for all to win
1 Hold On To Your Kids
1 Respectful Parents, Respectful Kids
1 Scolding: Why It Hurts More Than It Helps
1 The Daily Groove: A Creative Parents' Guide to the Art of Attraction Parenting
1 Easy to Love, Difficult to Discipline
1 Say Goodbye to Whining, Complaining, and Bad Attitudes . . . in You and Your Kids!
1 Between Parent and Child
1 Between Parent and Teenager
1 Parent Effectiveness Training
1 The Emotional Life of the Toddler
1 The Scientist in the Crib
1 Raising Your Spirited Child


Book Discussions:

Raising Our Children, Raising Ourselves - Chapter 1
Raising Our Children, Raising Ourselves - Chapter 2
Raising Our Children, Raising Ourselves - Chapter 3

Unconditional Parenting - Chapter 1
Unconditional Parenting - Chapter 2
Unconditional Parenting - Chapter 3
Unconditional Parenting Chapter 4
Unconditional Parenting Chapter 5
Unconditional Parenting Chapter 6
Unconditional Parenting Chapter 7
Unconditional Parenting Chapter 8

[Super Glue Mommy]

of what I have read so far I am recommending:
How To Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk - fast read, practical, straightforward advice, and completely non punitive.
Siblings Without Rivalry - written by the same authors as how to talk, just what we needed for dealing with those kids who always fight!
Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child - I found this book to be one of the first books to change my thinking from controlling childs behavior to understanding childs emotions behind the behavior.
Parenting from the Inside Out - This is more about healing a parent from their own childhood, for me it was a little bit of a complicated read though and took me a while to read.
Playful Parenting - Really helped me turn some power struggles into fun cooperation.

(I read a lot) more books on the way I will add to my recommendations based on which ones I like.

[zech13_9_goforgold]

"Have a New Kid By Friday" is one I recommend.

[Super Glue Mommy]

added everything up to post 3

[Carlyle]

"Becoming the Parent You Want to Be"...forget the author though. I think there's a section on "Books" in the sticky "GD Resources" too...

[labdogs42]

Another vote for:

How to Talk...
Playful Parenting

and I'd like to add Adventures in Gentle Discipline to the list.

[Super Glue Mommy]

updated to post 6

Thanks Carlyle, I didn't think to check there! This will probably still be a fun thread to have floating around

[crittersmum]

Terrific idea, and I love that you're ranking them by number of recommendations.

Another vote for Playful Parenting (dogeared at our house) and How To Talk... (in my second book club about this, so I can keep the ideas percolating in my head!)

[Super Glue Mommy]

We should start a discussion on How to talk... in the book club forum
I added your recommendations in crittersmum, I thought the ranking would be helpful for those just getting started, of course it also helps to hear why people recommend certain books

[Super Glue Mommy]

looking forward to more recommendations

[labdogs42]

I'm reading Scream Free parenting right now (well, I'm listening to the Audible download) and it is very good, too. I'll write some more about it when I finish reading it! Hopefully I'll be done soon!

[umami_mommy]

Originally Posted by zech13_9_goforgold

"Have a New Kid By Friday" is one I recommend.

this should not be on a GD list. it's mainstream parenting.

[umami_mommy]

Rosenberg, Marshall, Raising Children Compassionatley: Parenting the Nonviolent Communication Way

Greene, Ross, The Explosive Child: A New Approach for Understanding and Parenting Easily Frustrated, Chronically Inflexible Children (much of what is in here can apply to any child, esp one who is struggling with anything)

Kabat-Zin Jon and Myla, Everyday Blessings: The inner working of the Mindful Parent

Aldort, Naomi, Raising Our Children, Raising Ourselves: Transforming Parent-child Relationships from Reaction And Struggle to Freedom, Power And Joy

Liedloff, Jean, The Continuum Concept

Sweet, Win, Living Joyfully with Children

Leo, Pam, Connection Parenting

oh, i wanted to add this one:

Noelle, Scott, The Daily Groove: A Creative Parents' Guide to the Art of Attraction Parenting
(i haven't actually read it, though a friend's photo is on the cover, but i do get "the daily groove" everyday and it's pure GD and more)

[Cheshire]

Kids are Worth It by Barbara Coloroso. She addresses the different types of parenting styles and the effects they have on children. She also talks about helping your child build inner discipline, which for us is one of our main parenting goals.

I also really, really liked Beyond Consequences, Logic and Control. It wouldn't be just the one book I would read on the subject because it is written for helping children with severe behavioral issues. But, it was an eye opener for me in helping me understand how we all develop as children and, if we are not parented correctly/abandoned/etc., how that can severely affect the way a person develops. The authors compare the current treatments for children with severe behaviors versus their treatment. It is scary and heartbreaking to read some of the conventional wisdom on children and it is a relief to see that there are others out there who have found a better way.

[Super Glue Mommy]

thank you for your contributions honey. I removed the new kid by friday from the list as well (I also felt this book was not GD from what I read in the store, but I hadn't read it so I was waiting to see what others thought)

I will be reading a few of the books you suggested as well, they are on the way!

[Super Glue Mommy]

thank you chesire!

[Limabean1975]

I like this thread.

I've just started into it, but I'm getting a good feel from
Kids, Parents, and Power Struggles by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka, and having read a few other books of hers, I think I can confidently give it a recommendation.

[Super Glue Mommy]

^I like that author havent read that one though!

[GradysMom]

Unconditional parenting...

but I thought there was already a GD book sticky because that is where I got the book titles I have.

[Super Glue Mommy]

yep there is - its the GD resources. I was thinking we could add this link to is so people can see what comes most recommended. I like that the GD resources has it listed in alphabetical order too, so I think its nice to have both. adding your recommendation (that book is actually on the way to my house as well, I cant wait to read it!)