Help for Stressed Parents and Children: A Resource List

Not long ago I taught a seminar on "Parenting Under Extreme Stress."  I taught on signs of stress in children and the most common stressors.  We focused on how parents can manage the stress of parenting when life is particularly stressful and how to help their children manage stress.  With all of the amazing work being done currently in the area of applied neuroscience (particularly by Daniel Siegel), there are amazing resources available to help change old patterns of reactivity and overwhelm.  Here is my list of recommended resources (with links to amazon.com) that can support you in parenting:

Books

• The Whole-Brained Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind, by Daniel Siegel
• 10 Mindful Minutes: Giving Our Children—and Ourselves—the Social and Emotional Skills to Reduce Stress and Anxiety for Healthier, Happy Lives, by Goldie Hawn.  Forward by Daniel Siegel
• Stress and Your Child, by Dr. Archibald Hart
• Is Your-Teen Stressed or Depressed? An Inspirational Guide for Parents of Hurting Teens, by Archibald Hart
• When Children Grieve: For Adults to Help Children Deal with Death, Divorce, Pet Loss, Moving and Other Losses, by John James and Russell Friedman
• Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids, by Laura Markham
• Parenting from the Inside Out: How a Deeper Self-Understanding Can Help You Raise Children Who Thrive, by Daniel Siegel and Mary Hartzell
• The Connected Child: For Parents Who Have Welcomed Children: From other countries and cultures, from troubled backgrounds, with special behavioral or emotional needs, by Karyn Purvis, et al.

There are many resources geared towards families dealing with specific types of stress or loss.  Please contact me for further, specific recommendations.