What are the best books to raise a strong willed child?
If you have a strong willed child in your home then you probably know that raising a strong willed child can be very uniquely challenging. They may come off as more defiant and stubborn, but can also be great leaders with amazing problem solving skills.
Discipline strategies that worked on your other kids might not work on your strong willed child though. This is why I’m going to recommend the best books for raising a strong willed child, to give you some new skills to apply.
Before you check out all these books though, it’s important to remember that strong willed children often need a little bit more control and authority over their lives. Figuring out which things you will let them have decision power over and which things will be non-negotiables is a great start.
I definitely encourage you to check out more of my Gentle Parenting articles or download my free Gentle Parenting Power Tools because using a gentle approach with your strong willed child can be extremely effective and help you avoid those inevitable power struggles.
Now onto the book suggestions for raising a strong willed child.
(This post contains affiliate links, which means if you happen to buy a product I love then I may get a commission – at no extra cost to you! More information here.)
Best Books for Raising a Strong Willed Child
Raising Your Spirited Child by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka
Taming the Spirited Child: Strategies for Parenting Challenging Children Without Breaking Their Spirits by Michael H. Popkin
Different: The Story of an Outside-the-Box Kid and the Mom Who Loved Him by Sally Clarkson and Nathan Clarkson
I May Frustrate You, But I’m a Keeper (Parenting with Love and Confidence) by Ray W. Lincoln
The Explosive Child: A New Approach for Understanding and Parenting Easily Frustrated, Chronically Inflexible Children by Ross W. Greene
You Can’t Make Me (But I Can Be Persuaded): Strategies for Bringing Out the Best in Your Strong-Willed Child by Cynthia Tobias
Personality Plus for Parents by Florence Littauer
No Bad Kids: Toddler Discipline Without Shame by Janet Lansbury
Books with Amazing Parenting Strategies
The following books aren’t specific to strong willed children, but they have really effective (and quick to digest) strategies for discipline that may work with your strong willed child as well.
The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind by Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson
How To Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish
Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids: How to Stop Yelling and Start Connecting by Laura Markham
You can find more of my favourite Gentle Parenting books here.
How to Get Free Books for Raising Your Strong Willed Child
If you don’t have extra cash right now to buy any books on how to raise your strong willed child there are two options I often suggest.
#1. Get an Audible free trial
If you’ve never done this before you can get some free credits for audiobooks. Listening can also be easier sometimes if you find you never have the time to actually sit down and ready.
#2. Check out your local library in person or online
My local library has a huge selection of parenting books available as ebooks and audiobooks, including many from this list. You might be able to get one of more of these books through your library.
You’re doing a great job raising your strong willed child
Raising a strong willed child is seriously hard work, especially if you haven’t figured out your groove yet.
Just because some days you get into power struggles with your child or it feels like you never know what might set them off, it doesn’t mean you’re doing a bad job. By seeking out books here it shows that you want to do a good job raising your strong willed child and are willing to admit you need some help to figure that out. Your child is lucky to have a parent that loves them this much, and you are doing a great job.
Best Books to Raise a Spirited Child
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