Book Pairings

I love the idea of pairings – wine pairings, cheese pairings. Everything sounds more joyful in pairs! So I thought I’d pair the content of my book with some really handy parenting gadgets, tools, and supplies to a.) make your gift-giving easier and more meaningful and b.) offers parents the equipment needed to take action and enjoy and deepen their family relationships. Because every age and stage of a baby, child, and teen’s development requires a different kind of parenting approach, there are recommendations by age and stage.

For Parents of Infants and Toddlers:

Pair the Confident Parents, Confident Kids book with a CD of Lullabies. Here are two that I loved with my own baby and toddler and an additional one that comes highly recommended. These include:

• Jack Johnson and Friends; Sing-A-Longs and Lullabies for the film Curious George;
• Rockabye Baby Lullaby; Renditions of the Beatles; or 
• A Child’s Gift of Lullabies by I. Aaron Brown (including both instrumentals and lyrics)

For Parents of Young Children, Ages 4-7:

Pair the Confident Parents, Confident Kids book with my favorite feelings tools (listed in the book) or these recommended feelings picture books! These include:

• Plastic Minute Timer or Kitchen Timer;
• Train Whistle or Chime (for signaling transitions or gaining attention and focus);
• Playdoh or Kid-friendly Stress Balls (Love these DNA Squishy ones!); or
• “Mouse was Mad” by Linda Urban or “When Sophie Gets Angry — Really, Really Angry” by Molly Bang or “The Worry Box” by Suzanne Chiew

For Parents of Middle Childhood Ages 8-12:

Pair the Confident Parents, Confident Kids book with games in which your child can have choices and control, prompt meaningful family conversations, or help you laugh together! These could include:

• Peaceable Kingdom’s Mole Rats In Space Cooperative Game;
• 52 Essential Conversations Social and Emotional Learning Card Game (Winner of the 2018 Parents’ Choice Award); or
• National Geographic Joke Book Series
  

For Parents of Teens Ages 13-17:

Pair the Confident Parents, Confident Kids book with games that offer your teen support with dealing with the big range of emotions they will be experiencing, or spurring conversation with dice for dinnertime enjoyment, or learning coping strategies together. These could include:

• I Know What To Do When I’m Feeling Flip Book
  
• Learning Resources Conversation Cubes 
• Mindfulness Matters – card game that teaches coping strategies