Parenting a teenager can be hard, but there are loads of parents out there that have already survived the madness. And luckily for you and me, they wrote some books to help out the rest of us.
Teenagers are constantly changing which means your parenting has to change with them. Moving away from what you’re used to can be really scary and this is where a lot of parents go wrong so don’t worry if your relationship is starting to feel strained.
Parenting Teens Books
There are hundreds of books about parenting teens that might come in handy when you reach this rocky stage that will help you and your kid form a new relationship that works for everyone.
Does your teen talk? No, but they Text, Snap & Tikok: 10 Subjects every parent should ask their TEEN to get them TALKING more in a digital world – Nicole Rice
One thing teens aren’t going to do willingly is talk. In the age of technology, this can make raising teenagers seem nearly impossible but that’s where this brilliant book comes into play.
Parents forget that teens aren’t just physically changing but their interests and hobbies are as well so they probably aren’t interested in dolls and dinosaurs like they were 7 years ago. Our tip is to try to get to know them and talk to them about things they actually want to talk about rather than the things you want to talk to them about.
This is one of the best parenting books for teens because it helps you as a parent to show your kids that they are safe. It also shows them that they can grow and change into the adult they’re becoming in a safe environment with no pressure or judgment which is always good.
Parenting Teens With Love and Logic: Preparing Adolescents for Responsible Adulthood – Foster Cline, MD & Jim Fay
Another thing parents tend to freak out about when they’re raising teens is that they are very quickly becoming adults that have to know how to function in the world. This book will help you avoid setting yourself and your kid up for failure because nobody wants to see their kid go through that.
So, this book on teenage parenting touches on all the uncomfortable and difficult things that no one really wants to talk to their parents about. We promise you, your teen is probably finding this just as weird as you.
From addiction and peer pressure to sex and dating, everything is covered in this book and it will help you and your teen set clear and safe boundaries with everyone.
The Teenage Brain: A Neuroscientist’s Survival Guide to Raising Adolescents and Young Adults – Frances E Jensen, MD with Amy Ellis Nutt
Just like everyone else, you may have thought that our brains and teen brains are exactly the same but new research shows that this couldn’t be further from the truth.
This book talks about all the ways kids’ brains are different from ours and how this actually makes raising them so much easier. Did you know that teens are better at learning new things because their brain cells are better at making memories? Isn’t that just brilliant.
If you’re looking for books for parenting teenagers to make your life a little easier then this should definitely be on your list.
STOP THE CAP, YOU DON’T CARE! Talking to Teens About Tough Topics and Showing That You Care. A Mindful guide with 7 emotionally supportive strategies – Sabrina Hart
Teens are going through a hard time themselves and this is something that parents really need to try and remember. Stop The Cap is a great way for parents to learn how to help their kids survive their teenage years whilst still having a good relationship together.
Hart gives parents tips and tricks on how to be emotionally there for their child because they don’t just need you to be there physically. She also talks about real-life stories so that teen parents know they aren’t alone.
The author of this book has all the experience someone could ask for as she is a secondary teacher and mother. Imagine how many teenagers she’s had to try and talk to.
“Mom’s Guide” Parenting Your Teenage Daughter: Build a Better Connection with Your Teen Girl Tackling Anxiety, Intense Emotions, Depression, Self Esteem issues and more – Tammy Cobbs
During those teenage years, your daughter may start to find you slightly embarrassing and may distance herself slightly. This is definitely the book for you if you’re in this situation. “Mom’s Guide” will teach you all the ins and outs of the stress and anxiety that your kid may be facing as well as what she may be going through mentally as her body changes into a young adult.
This book is filled with personality and Tammy Cobbs brings all her experience to the table in this guide to help you with raising a teenage daughter.
Brainstorm: The Power and Purpose of The Teenage Brain by Daniel J. Siegell, M.D.
Understanding your teens can sometimes feel like a second job but with amazing books like this at the click of your fingers, you can’t go wrong. Siegell talks about all the different things to expect when your kids start changing into teenagers. Something that’s very different from lots of other books is that he doesn’t just talk about the bad things but also how amazing teenagers’ brains really are.
This book will really set you up for a great relationship with your teen and will help you understand that this isn’t a bad thing at all.
Blame My Brain: The Amazing Teenage Brain Revealed by Nicola Morgan
You may be able to tell that we have a thing for books about the teenage brain and that’s because it’s fascinating. Whilst reading this book, you’ll be faced with all the emotions and each chapter will teach you how to deal with the mood swings, reasons behind addiction and so much more in quite a funny way. Its light hearted nature certainly does make this book a lot easier to read and will help you understand your teenager a whole lot more.
Understanding your teenager is often one of the first steps towards building that relationship with them and tuning into their emotions can be really important.
How to Talk so Teens will Listen and Listen so Teens will Talk by Adele Faber
Adele Faber’s one goal is to make sure that communication between teens and their parents is up to scratch. In this brilliant book, Faber will guide you through the important skills you need to communicate with your kid. This is certainly up there as it’s very straight to the point and is very practical – Faber isn’t just telling you what to do but more so guiding you through.
She’ll teach you how to communicate in a way that allows your teen to communicate with you and avoid any arguments that could happen. The focus here is on the parents and what skills you can develop to be that much closer to your teen which is something we love.
The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read (And Your Children Will Be Glad That You Did) by Philippa Pery
We’ve all been through the teenage years and this is one of the best books you can read about parenting teenagers but it can also come into every aspect of your life, not just raising your teen.
This book will focus a lot on how you can use your past to understand yourself as a parent and it’s also always reminding you that life isn’t easy and that you’re doing a great job which is always reassuring.
In fact, the most recent copy of this book has a whole chapter dedicated to siblings and getting on with them which is really cool.
The Gifts of Imperfect Parenting by Brené Brown
No one really wants to be told how to parent their child which is why Brown shares a bundle of different stories that touch on different topics. You might have already figured this out by now but teens are complicated so this is a great way for parents to learn new things about their kids and figure out the best way to go about parenting them.
Now if you’re looking for a step by step book on how to survive when your child becomes a teen then we have some bad news for you. You’ll have to read between the lines with this one and decide what your kid actually needs.
But, this might be helpful later on down the line once you’ve gotten the hang of this whole parenting thing.
Teen Parenting
The truth is, no book can really teach you how to parent a teenager but these books about parenting teenagers will act as a great guide and starting point for it all. At the end of the day, you will make mistakes as you parent your teen because everyone does but it’s important to learn from them and carry on. You’ve got this and these books are here to help.