We’ve all seen those mugs that read “#1 Mom” or “#1 Dad” on the side—in fact, you might even be holding one right now. But of the thousands of moms and dads that sip their morning coffee from these mugs, almost none of them can truly be number one. That’s just math.
Not that parenting is a competition, mind you, nor should it be. But there is still a certain pride that comes from raising your child thoughtfully and well. So if you’d like to truly earn that “#1 parent” mug, we recommend checking out the five thought-provoking reads below.
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The Family Firm: A Data-Driven Guide to Better Decision Making in the Early School Years
By Emily Oster
A Brown professor of economics and mom of two offers a classic business school framework for data-driven parents to think more deliberately about the key issues of the elementary years: school, health, extracurricular activities, and more. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Emily Oster, in the Next Big Idea App
The Self-Driven Child: The Science and Sense of Giving Your Kids More Control Over Their Lives
By William Stixrud and Ned Johnson
The Self-Driven Child offers a combination of cutting-edge brain science, the latest discoveries in behavioral therapy, and case studies drawn from thousands of kids and teens to teach you how to set your child on the real road to success. View on Amazon
License to Parent: How My Career as a Spy Helped Me Raise Resourceful, Self-Sufficient Kids
By Christina Hillsberg and Ryan Hillsberg
When a CIA analyst marries a CIA field operative, their marriage and parenting style are bound to be unconventional. In License to Parent, they draw on their unique expertise to provide parents with the tools necessary to raise savvy kids who have the skills to navigate life’s unpredictabilities. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by authors Christina and Ryan Hillsberg, in the Next Big Idea App
The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind
By Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson
In this pioneering, practical book, a neuropsychiatrist teams up with a parenting expert to offer a revolutionary approach to child rearing with twelve key strategies that foster healthy brain development, leading to calmer, happier children. View on Amazon
How to Raise Kids Who Aren’t Assholes: Science-Based Strategies for Better Parenting—from Tots to Teens
By Melinda Wenner Moyer
A clear, actionable, sometimes humorous (but always science-based) guide for parents on how to shape their kids into honest, kind, generous, confident, independent, and resilient people… who just might save the world one day. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Melinda Wenner Moyer, in the Next Big Idea App
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