A number of my clients have been asking for books that they can read that describe the same Democratic Parenting philosophy that I use in our sessions.  I thought I might post a few of my favourites for everyone to check out:

• Positive Discipline by Jane Nelsen is one of my favourites.  Straightforward, thorough, and lots of great ideas as well as explanations as to why she suggests the ideas she does.  She’s also a mom of SEVEN so she knows of what she speaks.
• Children: The Challenge by Rudolph Dreikurs.  A classic.  And when I say classic, I mean that it hasn’t been edited since it was written in 1964.  Not for the politically correct in some places, I’ll warn you, but if you can overlook a few cringe-worthy references, the content of the book is still solid.  If your parents ever read a parenting book, this may very well have been the one.
• Breaking the Good Mom Myth by Alyson Schafer.  Same principles in a casual, girlfriend-to-girlfriend tone.  I’d love it even more if there was an index at the back (perhaps a suggestion for your next book, Alyson?), but that just may be the overachiever in me coming through.  When you buy this book you not only get practical, relevant parenting advice, you also support a local Canadian author, too!
• Also check out Honey, I Wrecked The Kids and Ain’t Misbehavin’ , both also by Alyson for an in-depth breakdown of the “goals of misbehaviour” that I regularly talk about in my sessions, and specific tools and strategies for handling a laundry list of parental complaints and pet peeves.  Great books.
• And although the last few aren’t Democratic Parenting books per se, I think The Mother-Daughter Project by SuEllen Hamkins and Renee Schultz is great reading for anyone with young daughters, worried about what will happen when they hit the teenage years.  Round up a few like-minded friends, and create your own project!  And make sure you use your group to teach your girls solid communication and assertiveness skills; Express Yourself by Emily Roberts will give all of you the skills you need to say what you mean and mean what you say.

I hope that gives you a few ideas as to where to start.  Not exactly typical “beach reads”, but perhaps good summer reading nonetheless…?