The Whole-Brain Child
by Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson
Twelve strategies for parenting with the developing brain in mind: connect and redirect, name it to tame it, engage don't enrage, move it or lose it. The neuroscience is simplified and the strategies are concrete and illustrated. It is especially useful for tantrums and big feelings in young children.
Read it if…
you have children under ten and want to understand what is happening in a meltdown.
Skip it if…
you want behavior charts and consequences; the book is about connection first.
Three things you will actually use
- Connect first, then redirect.
- Help the child tell the story of what happened.
- Move the body to shift the mood.
Do this first
In the next meltdown, connect with the right brain (tone, touch, empathy) before reasoning with the left.
Our verdict
Clear and practical; a strong early-childhood guide.
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Gentle and practical; a good book for reactive parents.
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