The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The authors of No-Drama Discipline and The Yes Brain give an explanation for the new science of how a child’s brain is wired and how it matures in this pioneering, practical book.

“Simple, smart, and effective solutions to your child’s struggles.”—Harvey Karp, M.D.

In this pioneering, practical book, Daniel J. Siegel, neuropsychiatrist and creator of the bestselling Mindsight, and parenting expert Tina Payne Bryson offer a revolutionary approach to child rearing with twelve key strategies that foster healthy brain development, leading to calmer, happier children. The authors give an explanation for—and make accessible—the new science of how a child’s brain is wired and how it matures. The “upstairs brain,” which makes decisions and balances emotions, is under construction until the mid-twenties. And especially in young children, the right brain and its emotions tend to rule over the logic of the left brain. No wonder kids throw tantrums, fight, or sulk in silence. By applying these discoveries to on a regular basis parenting, you’ll be able to turn any outburst, argument, or fear into a chance to integrate your child’s brain and foster vital growth.

Complete with age-appropriate strategies for dealing with day-to-day struggles and illustrations to help you give an explanation for these concepts to your child, The Whole-Brain Child shows you how to cultivate healthy emotional and intellectual development in order that your children can lead balanced, meaningful, and connected lives.

“[A] useful child-rearing resource for all of the family . . . The authors include a fair amount of brain science, but they present it for both adult and child audiences.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Strategies for getting a youngster to calm down [with] compassion.”—The Washington Post

“This erudite, tender, and funny book is full of fresh ideas based on the up to date neuroscience research. I urge all parents who want kind, happy, and emotionally healthy kids to read The Whole-Brain Child. This is my new baby gift.”—Mary Pipher, Ph.D., creator of Reviving Ophelia and The Shelter of Each Other

“Gives parents and teachers ideas to get all parts of a healthy child’s brain working together.”—Parent to Parent