5 Books for Parents of Teens
These are five of my favorite books for parents of teens and adolescents.
1) Brainstorm, by Daniel Siegel:
This is one of my favorite books about adolescence. Siegel frames adolescent behavior within the context of brain development, and offers practical tools for parents, teens, and educators alike.
2) The Teenage Brain, by Frances E. Jensen:
Jensen, a neurologist, interweaves her own experience as a parent with research on the adolescent brain to “dispel commonly held myths about teens,” while also providing both parents and teenagers with practical advice for navigating this life stage.
3) Decoding Boys, Cara Natterson:
This is a great resource for parents of boys, and provides insight into why puberty-age boys sometimes behave in such mysterious ways. A must-read for any parent of an adolescent boy.
4) Boys and Sex, Peggy Orenstein:
Orenstein uses interviews and qualitative data to offer a glimpse into how young men understand, and negotiate the rules of sex. Orenstein addresses important issues related to consumption of pornography, consent, and “locker-room culture.”
Sax attempts to explain the gender gap in college attendance and graduation rates (girls are outperforming boys by a wide margin), and addresses some of the systemic issues plaguing boys in our culture. He offers practical solutions and suggestions for parents of boys, and young men.