Positive Parenting | Mr. Dad

Ylonda Gault Caviness, author of Child, Please. Topic: How Mama’s old-school lessons helped one mother check herself before she wrecked herself. Issues: Black parenting vs. white parenting; the advantages and disadvantages of old-school parenting; why parenting “experts” aren’t actually experts; mother hood and work.

Amir Levine, author of Attached. Topic: The new science of adult attachment and how it can help you find—and keep—love. Issues: Three attachment styles (anxious, avoidant, secure); understanding your own (and your child’s) attachment style; what happens when styles conflict? How secure attachment is essential not just for emotional well-being but for physical well-being as well.

Anat Baniel, author of Kids Beyond Limits. Topic: Breakthrough results for children with autism, Asperger’s, brain damage, ADHD, and undiagnosed developmental delays. Issues: The need to shift to connecting with the child rather than fixing him/her; nine steps to improve the child’s brain, which will produce remarkable—and sometimes immediate—results; harnessing the brain’s capacity to heal itself; how parents can incorporate the nine steps into everyday life.

James LaPiedra, author of Identity Lockdown. Topic: A step-by-step guide to identify theft protection. Issues: What is identity theft and how big is the problem? how thieves get and use your personal information; types of ID theft (financial, criminal, driver’s license, medical, and more); preventing ID theft by protecting your social security card, wallet, mailbox, computer, and children; monitoring your credit card and bank statements; what to do if your identity is stolen.

Rita Eichenstein, author of Not What I Expected. Topic: Help and hope for parents of atypical children. Issues: Defining “atypical;” how the diagnosis of an atypical child affects the child and the parents; the emotional stages parents go through as they struggle to help their child; how to get help when you need it.

Amber Ankowski and Andy Ankowski, co-authors of Think Like a Baby. Topic: Learn to better understand your child’s developing mind. Issues: Setting up simple research experiements to do with your baby; fun ways to get insight into what’s happening inside your child’s skull; the importance of talking to your baby; playing with reflexes; how music affects a child–before he or she is even born; many more experiments.

David Vienna, author of Calm the F*ck Down. Topic: Could this be the only parenting technique you’ll ever need? Issues: A variety of scenarious that make parents anxious–and down-to-earth reassurance and guidance on how to relax and enjoy the moment.

Robert Melillo, author of Disconnected Kids. Topic: Balancing the brains of kids with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other neurological disorders. Issues: How the developing mind is wired; what causes left- and right-brain disconnect; identifying left- or right-brain deficiency; (re)training the brain through physical stimulation.

Dana Angelo White, author of First Bites. Topic: Superfoods for babies and toddlers. Issues: Defining superfoods; what growing bodies need; what they don’t need; simple recipes that emphasize fruits and vegetables, grains, protein, dairy, and eggs; getting kids to make good food choices on tier own.

George Hagen, author of Gabriel Finley & the Raven’s Riddle. Topic: Issues: Creating books for middle schoolers; riddles and puzzles, ravens, magic, mystery, family secrets, and redemption; childhood literary idols.

Ron Lieber, author of The Opposite of Spoiled. Topic: Raising kids who are grounded, generous, and smart about money. Issues: Why we need to talk about money; how to start the conversation; the allowance debate; the smartest ways for kids to spend; how to talk about giving; why kids should work; how much is enough?

Claude Knobler, author of More Love (Less Panic). Topic: Lessons learned about life and parenting after adopting a child from Ethiopia. Issues: The difference between influence and control; why worrying doesn’t help; how less than perfect may be perfect enough; learning perspective from a piñata and mushy food.

Whit Honea, author of The Parents’ Phrase Book. Topic: Easy, useful phrases, scripts, and techniques for every situation. Issues: Words to help you discipline and enforce limits; build a child’s self-confidence; handle questions about life and death; talk to your kids about friends, bullies, and playing by the rules—or not.

Leon Scott Baxter, author of Secrets of Safety-Net Parenting. Topic: Raising happy and successful children. Issues: The importance of letting our children fail—and learn from the experience; helping children find their passions and strengths; the difference between nudging a child in a particular direction and pushing; why you’re not your child’s friend—and shouldn’t try to be.

Timothy Wilson, author of Redirect. Topic: Changing the stories we live by. Issues: Why so many self-help programs, drug use prevention programs; teen pregnancy prevention programs, and crime reduction programs (like “scared straight”), don’t work—and may even do more harm than good; how, by making small changes to the narratives we tell ourselves, we can create lasting, positive change.