Recommended Book List for Understanding Early and Middle Adolescence
- Our Last Best Shot, Guiding Our Children Through Early Adolescence by Laura Session Stepp. 2001 This book is unique because the information is based on observations and interviews from children aged 10 – 15. It gives real life family stories and then highlights the positive parenting skills.
- Positive Discipline for Teenagers, Resolving Conflict with Your Teenage Son or Daughter by Jane Nelsen and Lynn Lott. This is a good book that covers the Positive Discipline approach. They discuss nonpunitive parenting strategies, goals of behavior, control and punishment, communication that works and much more.
- The Roller-Coaster Years, Raising Your Child Through the Maddening Yet Magical Middle School Years. by Charlene Giannetti and Margaret Sagarese. 1997 The authors pull together information from experts, supported and advised by the National Middle School Association and with insight from surveys of parents, teachers and the children themselves. They cover issues such as emotions, growing bodies, developing independence and limit setting, school, peers and drugs.
- Parenting 911, How to Safeguard and Rescue Your 10 – 15 year old from Substance Abuse, Depression, Sexual Encounters, Violence, Failure at School, Danger on the Internet and Other Risky Situations by Charlene Giannetti and Margaret Sagarese. 1999 The authors have pulled together important information addressing each of these topics in separate chapters.
- Parents, Teens and Boundaries, How to Draw the Line by Jane Bluestein, Ph.D. 1993 Testing their limits is how teenagers grow and learn yet most parents don’t know how to draw the line. This book gives 20 wonderful relationship-building techniques and is one of the few books that cover communication blocks.
- No More Nagging, Nit-picking, and Nudging, A Guide to Motivating, Inspiring and Influencing Kids Aged 10 – 18 by Jim Wiltens. 1991 This book covers three areas: 1) Learn how to get inside kids’ heads so that you can be heard, 2) make changes in behavior without making waves and 3) create self-propelled kids by tapping into the six driving forces behind children’s behavior.
- Get Out of My Life but first could you drive me and Cheryl to the mall? by Anthony Wolf, Ph.D. 1991 This book supports the belief that kids are different now and therefore parents have to come up with a new parenting approach. The author describes the psychological rules that dictate teenage behavior with humor and offers fresh advice.
- Between Parent & Teenager by Dr. Haim Ginott. Haim Ginott is a well recognized authority on child rearing. This book offers us insight into the adolescent’s psychology so we can better empathize and understand them thus leading to improved communication and cooperation.
- Uncommon Sense for Parents with Teenagers by Michael Riera. 1995 This book discusses the social and psychological development of 9th – 12th graders. An excellent source for understanding the important concept of shifting from being a manager of our child to being hired as a consultant.
- How To Talk With Teens About Love, Relationships, and S-E-X by Amy Miron, M.S. and Charles D. Miron, PH.D. 2002 Many parents find it difficult or impossible to talk with their pre-teens and teens about these topics. This book will give you information you can share along with ideas on how to approach the subjects. I highly recommend this book.
- A Field Guide to the American Teenager by Michael Riera and Joseph Di Prisco, 2000 Through stories and conversations, this book dramatizes teenagers living their everyday lives. Complete with original suggestions for parents to improve communication, guiding families towards genuine mutual respect and understanding.
©2013 Cynthia Klein has been a Certified Parent Educator since 1994. She works with dads, moms and organizations who want more cooperation, mutual respect and understanding between adults and children of all ages. Cynthia presents her expertise through speaking, webinars, and private parent coaching sessions. She is a member of the National Speakers Association and writes the Middle School Mom column for the magazine Parenting on the Peninsula. Contact Cynthia at bridges 2 understanding, bridges2understa.wpstagecoach.com or call 650. 341.0779.
