Title: The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind, Survive Everyday Parenting Struggles, and Help Your Family Thrive
Author: Daniel J. Siegel
First published January 1, 2011
192 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9780553807912 (ISBN10: 0553807919)
Rating: 4.26
Overview
Do you ever feel like your child’s behavior is out of control? Well, it’s not entirely their fault! As their brain develops, it can be difficult for them to regulate their emotions and make logical decisions.
In The Whole-Brain Child, neuropsychiatrist Daniel J. Siegel and parenting expert Tina Payne Bryson offer practical strategies to help you navigate the challenges of everyday parenting.
By understanding how your child’s brain is wired, you can transform tantrums and meltdowns into opportunities for growth and connection. With twelve key strategies, including storytelling, physical activities, and empathy-building, you can help your child develop into a happy, balanced, and adaptable individual.
With easy-to-understand explanations and age-appropriate techniques, The Whole-Brain Child is a must-read for any parent looking to nurture their child’s developing mind and thrive as a family.
About the Author
Meet Dr. Daniel J. Siegel, a child psychiatrist, award-winning educator, and an internationally acclaimed author.
He earned his medical degree from Harvard University and completed his postgraduate medical education at UCLA. Currently, he is a clinical professor of psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine.
He also serves as a co-investigator at the Center for Culture, Brain, and Development and is a founding co-director of the Mindful Awareness Research Center. Dr. Siegel is the Executive Director of the Mindsight Institute.
Dr. Siegel is an expert in Interpersonal Neurobiology, an interdisciplinary field that explains our subjective and interpersonal experiences. One of his recent works focuses on the benefits of mindfulness practices in personal growth and well-being.
Dr. Siegel has a unique talent for presenting complex scientific concepts in a simple and understandable manner, making his books enjoyable for all readers.
Dr. Siegel has authored several highly acclaimed books, including “Brainstorm,” which was a New York Times bestseller. He has also written “Mindsight,” “The Developing Mind,” “The Mindful Brain,” and “The Mindful Therapist.” Additionally, he co-authored “Parenting From the Inside Out” with Mary Hartzell and “The Whole-Brain Child” with Tina Bryson.
Dr. Siegel is the Founding Editor of the Norton Professional Series on Interpersonal Neurobiology, which includes “Healing Trauma,” “The Power of Emotion,” and “Trauma and the Body.” Dr. Siegel lives in Los Angeles with his wife.
To learn more about Dr. Siegel’s work, visit DrDanSiegel.com.
Editoral Review
The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind, Survive Everyday Parenting Struggles, and Help Your Family Thrive is a groundbreaking book by Daniel J. Siegel that provides parents with practical strategies to nurture their child’s brain development and improve their overall well-being.
This book is particularly relevant in today’s world where parents are struggling to balance work, home, and childcare amidst a global pandemic.
Siegel is a leading expert in child development and neuropsychology, and he draws upon his extensive knowledge and experience to provide a comprehensive framework for parents to develop their child’s brain in a holistic manner.
The book is written in a conversational style, making it accessible to parents from all walks of life.
The book’s main focus is on helping parents understand and manage their child’s emotions which, many times when not adequately addressed, become overwhelming and take over the child’s brain.
To explain the science behind the brain development of children, the author uses visual aids, vivid anecdotes, and metaphors. This way, he makes it easy for parents to understand and implement strategies that support optimal development.
The main argument of the book is that parents should strive to be present with their children, respond to their needs in a nurturing manner, and teach them skills to regulate their emotions. The twelve strategies mentioned in the book act as a guide to help parents achieve these goals.
The strategies range from understanding the development of the brain to fostering connection and cultivating self-awareness, among others.
One of the strengths of this book is the way each strategy is presented, followed by practical exercises parents can do with their children.
These exercises should be repeated regularly to help the child secure the skill and improve their overall well-being. Parents will also appreciate the extensive research and science that backs each strategy.
On the downside, some may find the book repetitive in parts, and the focus on certain specific child behaviors may not be applicable to all children. However, these minor shortcomings do not diminish the overall value of the book.
The Whole-Brain Child is an essential book for parents who desire to raise emotionally healthy children. It is also recommended for pediatricians, therapists, and educators who want to deepen their understanding of brain development in children.
The book is both informative and practical, and parents who apply the strategies recommended in the book can expect to see improvements in their child’s behavior, development and relationship with their children.
Overall, the book is a must-read for parents looking for actionable strategies to nurture their child’s brain development and improve overall well-being.
It receives a solid four stars out of five, indicating its benefits and minor shortcomings are almost equally balanced.
