Perhaps you need guidance, uplifting, or encouragement in raising your kids. There are so many online books that one can read to help grow and mould that young one into an admirable young adult. This article reviews some of the perfect books about parenting tweens and teens.
Yes Your Teen is Crazy by Michael Bradley
Ever wondered why you find yourself yelling in the house from time to time. The rants and ramps cannot stop, and you cannot just have a sober conversation with your teen. Yes, Your Teen is Crazy! Loving Your Kid without Losing Your Mind by Michael J Bradley is the book that will change your teen’s parenting life.
Yes, Your Teen is Crazy! Loving your Kid without Losing Your Mind by Michael J Bradley was initially published in 2001 and digitized in 2010.
Bradley warns you that teenage rage is an emotional accident your teens are not ready to prevent because they are overly crazy. The teens do not know how to recover from an emotional bloodletting rage and may need your assistance as a parent to pull through.
The book is written in three parts, with part one addressing issues the teens go through in their lives, part two addressing parents on how best to handle their teens, and part three giving ideas on how to communicate and parent your teens.
Bradley takes you through several teen issues that you as a parent need to be aware of, such as:
- The hormonal changes that make your teen crazy
- Drugs and substance abuse
- Teens and sexual drives
- Teens and Internet obsession
- Teenage rage – explosive outbursts, anger, name-calling, screaming at people
- Misses out on school work and grades and life balance
- Teen amnesia — the teen becomes forgetful and suddenly blind or deaf to things around them.
It is an excellent read for training parents and giving them skills to transform their teens into responsible young adults. It is an easy read coined with a sense of humour to calm down your already ramped nerves. However, it does not give you strategies to manage your teen’s behaviour but only guides how to communicate and parent your teen.
The book is recommended for mothers with teenagers still struggling with their teenhood. It is a good read if you are in a high-risk teen situation to help you guard your emotions and stay sane even in the middle of teen meddles. It is also recommended for rebellious teens to help them understand their craziness as they struggle to maintain their relationship with their parents.
The Five Love Languages of Teenagers by Dr Gary Chapman
I have a teenage boy. I always thought love was about giving him all he requests and allowing him to have his way. Why? Most times, I would get tired of the debates and the arguments and give in to his demands without a struggle. I realized there is more than just loving your teen and letting him have it all because you are too tired to argue after I read “The Five Love Languages of Teenagers” by Dr Gary Chapman.
Gary Chapman, PhD,is the author of the bestselling The 5 Love Languages® series. The Five Love Languages of Teenagers is just one of his best series.
Do you want to show your teen love and at the same time understand their language? The Five Love Languages of Teenagers is the book for you.
Dr Gary in The 5 Love Languages of Teenagers gives you the secret to understanding and loving your teen unconditionally. Dr Gary understands that teenagers face various pressures and stresses each day and that as a parent, there must be a way to deal with such forces. He further outlines the five love languages: Words of Affirmation, Physical Touch, Quality Time, Acts of Service, and Gifts.
Dr Gary Chapman explains the teen’s developmental changes and gives the parent tips on understanding a teen and communicating in your teen’s love language. Dr Gary’s tips are exquisitely laid out, including anger, desire for independence, and need for responsibility. The book will help you break the destructive paths and forge constructive ones for your teenager. Single and blended parenting is also not left out in understanding the love language of their teenagers.
It is an insightful and encouraging book to help single and blended parents navigate the teen years and stay in touch with their kids as they develop socially, mentally, and spiritually. However, it does not include gender identity for teenagers. It breaks down the love language concepts into ways you can relate well with your teen and apply it to the life of the teen in a language they understand, appreciate and enjoy.
The Five Love Languages of Teenagers is the perfect book if you have a teen you want to parent using to The Five Love Languages. The book gives parents with teens the opportunity to learn their kid’s love language and provide them with family love and support. Go for it.
Untangled by Lisa Damour
The teenage years are never a soft ride for girls. It is a bumpy road with so many unwavering issues to be settled. Are you ready to aid your girl go through smoothly? Do you want to make it easier to understand your teenage girl; let the girl be untangled.
Lisa Damour, PhD, director of the internationally renowned Laurel School’s Center for Research on Girls, quotes in her writing, “You want your daughter to become a critical consumer of the media, so use what she’s watching to help her build those skills.” Girls are seen as weak and are at risk of being taken advantage of. Still, when given opportunity and guidance, they come out strong and become the best of the best.
In her book, Damour describes seven phases girls experience in their lives: parting with childhood; joining a new tribe; harnessing emotions; contending with adult authority; planning for the future; entering the romantic world, and caring for herself.
Damour teaches you how to navigate your teen girl’s teen behaviour and transitions. You will learn that confronting authority is suitable for your girl and that it is healthy and natural for girls to behave as they do when young. Untangled explains these girls’ erratic behaviours, preparing you, the parent, for what’s ahead and how to go about without worry.
Lisa reminds you that it is natural for teenage girls to become private and temperamental. They know how to harness their emotions when it comes to relationships. You were once there, and you probably remember your mood swings and attitudes. The author further reminds you that teen girls will value being part of a tribe and need help to avoid the pitfalls. As a parent, your presence is of importance in your daughter’s life to help her belong.
Damour informs you to guide your teen girl to deal with unresolved issues at a tender age. Teach her to be in control of her emotions even in the most challenging moments. She goes further to give you a guide on professional consultation regarding your teen girl.
Parents with daughters, do not miss a copy of this excellent read for her sake.
Stop Negotiating with Your Teen: Strategies for Parenting Your Angry Manipulative Moody or Depressed Adolescent by Janet Edgette.
Being a mother of two boys, I have one who is in his teen years; every time I ask him to do a task, I have to accompany it with a promise that if I do not do it, it will be complaints and his usual teen tantrums. The job will be perfectly done whenever I do that without ranting. I kept asking myself if I had to keep negotiating with my manipulative young boy. Then I came across the book “Stop Negotiating with Your Teen: Strategies for Parenting Your Angry Manipulative Moody or Depressed Adolescent.”
“Stop Negotiating with Your Teen: Strategies for Parenting Your Angry Manipulative Moody or Depressed Adolescent by Janet Edgette was published in December 2001.
The book helped me realize there are better ways of communicating with him to get things done without those power struggles. I realized that I needed to stop my power and control over my teen; instead guard my emotions and connect with him for effective communication.
The book is written in two sections.
Section one: Regaining influence over the difficult Teenage Child
The section reminds you to regain control and not let your teenager override your authority. Instead of backing down and losing credibility, the author guides you on how to help your teen obey your command and assume responsibility.
Section two: Family stories
The numerous disagreements and clashes with your teen are inevitable but can be controlled through positive communication and a strong relationship. This book helps the wary parent handle your defiant, manipulative teenager with love and care.
Janet Edgette gets you through the teenager’s irate behaviour by giving you valuable strategies to manage your volatile, secretive, depressed, and irritable adolescent. Janet addresses issues such as:
- Communicating effectively without confrontations
- Managing conflicts between the two of you before they escalate into violence
- Teen’s verbal intimidation and manipulation
- Avoiding futile arguments with your teen
- Standing firm against the teen rage
- Building the teen’s self-esteem
It is a good read for wary and helpless parents about to give up. It will help a parent eliminate drama and the numerous parent-teen conflicts. The book will help build effective communication strategies with your impulsive teenager.
Janet understands that teens can bully their parents with their temper and manipulation. If you find that every talk you handle with your teen is about arguments and turns out to be a power struggle with your teen, this is the book for you. On a scale of 5, I would give this book 4.8. It is a book worth your time. Enjoy the read.
Parenting Teens with Love & Logic: Preparing Adolescents for Responsible Adulthood by Foster W. Cline and Jim Fay.
Perhaps you are wondering how you will handle your adolescent and train them into responsible adulthoods. There is always a solution for that. The book “Parenting Teens with Love& Logic: Preparing Adolescents for Responsible Adulthood” by Foster W. Cline and Jim Fay has got you covered.
The book, first published in 1992 and revised in 2006, was written in three parts;
Part 1: Love and Logic Parents Grow Up
The authors take you through parenting graduate school. Every parent needs to know we are in a dynamic world and should embrace every change which knocks at the door. The authors help you realize you are in charge and guide you to choose the best parenting style which works well with your teenager’s personality.
Cline and Fay help you through training your teens to act responsibly as they move into adulthood. The authors let you through the turns and twists of having your teens take responsibility for their actions and gain control through their choices.
Part 2: Living on the Edge: The Wild and Wonderful Challenges of Parenting Teenagers.
Cline and Fay guide you through the internal and external changes adolescents undergo, which you as a parent need to be aware of. Parents need to accept them and let go of them into the real world of adulthood. Most parents worry too much even when the issue is not worth the worry. The changes that teens undergo are normal and may vary from one individual to another.
Part 3: Love and Logic Parenting Pearls
Part 3 is the most exciting part that gives you a breakthrough. I loved how Cline and Fay weave through all that teens go through. The two teach you the real-life challenges teens go through in their everyday life. The authors give you magic on parenting your kid while addressing many real-life issues. The teen issues include the following;
- Aggressive behaviour
- Appearance
- Spirituality
- Crisis
- Drugs or substance abuse
- Divorce and visitation
- Friends and Peer pressure
- The Internet
- Violence: Bullies and Gangs
- Grades
- College expenses
- And much more!
This book is a gem. The authors have covered a wide range of real-life issues that teenagers face. The book gives you the tools to help your teens find their identity and grow in maturity.
I recommend that parents who want vital concepts and practical solutions to help their children become emotionally, socially, and morally healthy go for it. Take your time to go through this book. You will love it!
I would give it a standing ovation because of its logical presentation of all the teen issues and how to go about them.
Take Away
Having read several books on parenting teens, it goes without saying that the end justifies the means. Parenting life can never be the same after reading these great books. There will be no more power struggles, ramps, and losing your mind as a parent. Parent them with love to be the best you ever cared for.