Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
Best Books for Toddler Behavior (Ages 1–3)
14
items Navigating toddler behavior can feel overwhelming, especially when it comes to tantrums, big emotions, and daily routines. As a child development specialist, I’ve curated this list of books to help you better understand what’s developmentally appropr...
Why I recommend it: This book completely reframes how parents view toddler behavior, especially during tantrums and power struggles. It emphasizes respect, boundaries, and staying calm rather than reacting emotionally. I recommend it because it helps...
No Bad Kids: Toddler Discipline Without Shame by Janet Lansbury
Why I recommend it: This book provides very practical tools for understanding toddler communication and reducing meltdowns. It breaks down why toddlers behave the way they do in an easy-to-understand, easy-to-apply way. I recommend it because the str...
The Happiest Toddler on the Block: How to Eliminate Tantrums and Raise a Patient, Respectful and Cooperative One- to Four-Year-Old by Harvey Karp, M.D.
Why I recommend it: This book is one of the most practical guides for improving communication with young children. It provides simple, real-life scripts that parents can use immediately in challenging situations. I recommend it because it helps reduc...
How to Talk so Little Kids Will Listen: A Survival Guide to Life with Children Ages 2-7 by Joanna Faber and Julie King
Why I recommend it: This book focuses on fostering independence, structure, and respect during the toddler years. It gives practical ideas for creating an environment that supports learning and reduces behavioral struggles. I recommend it because it ...
The Montessori Toddler: A Parent's Guide to Raising a Curious and Responsible Human Being by Simon Davies
Why I recommend it: This book is incredibly validating for parents of strong-willed, sensitive, or high-energy children. It helps reframe challenging traits as strengths rather than problems. I recommend it because it offers realistic strategies that...
Raising Your Spirited Child: A Guide for Parents Whose Child Is More Intense, Sensitive, Perceptive, Persistent, and Energetic by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka, Ed.D.
Why I recommend it: This book explains behavior through the lens of the nervous system rather than discipline alone. It helps parents understand that many behaviors are rooted in stress and regulation challenges. I recommend it because it shifts the ...
Brain-Body Parenting: How to Stop Managing Behavior and Start Raising Joyful, Resilient Kids by Mona Delahooke, Ph.D.
Why I recommend it: This book provides a strong foundation for understanding how a child’s brain develops and how that impacts behavior. It breaks down complex neuroscience into simple, usable strategies. I recommend it because it helps parents respo...
The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child's Developing Mind by Daniel J. Siegel M.D., and Tina Payne Bryson
Why I recommend it: This book focuses on teaching rather than punishing, which is key for long-term behavior change. It helps parents shift from reactive discipline to intentional guidance. I recommend it because it gives clear steps for handling dif...
No-Drama Discipline: The Whole-Brain Way to Calm the Chaos and Nurture Your Child's Developing Mind by
Why I recommend it: This book emphasizes connection as the foundation for behavior. It helps parents regulate their own emotions, which directly impacts their child’s behavior. I recommend it because it reduces power struggles and builds a more posit...
Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids: How to Stop Yelling and Start Connecting by Laura Markham
Why I recommend it: This book breaks down discipline strategies by age, which makes it easy to apply in real life. It helps parents understand what behaviors are developmentally appropriate. I recommend it because it’s very straightforward and practi...
Toddler Discipline for Every Age and Stage: Effective Strategies to Tame Tantrums, Overcome Challenges, and Help Your Child Grow by Aubrey Hargis, Breana Sylvester, Ph.D. (Foreword by)
Why I recommend it: This book focuses on respectful caregiving and building trust with young children. It encourages parents to slow down and be more intentional in their interactions. I recommend it because it helps create more cooperation without f...
Elevating Child Care: A Guide to Respectful Parenting by Janet Lansbury
Why I recommend it: This book explores parenting approaches that prioritize emotional well-being and resilience. It offers a different perspective compared to more traditional parenting styles. I recommend it because it encourages a more balanced, le...
The Danish Way of Parenting: What the Happiest People in the World Know About Raising Confident, Capable Kids by Jessica Joelle Alexander and Iben Sandahl
Why I recommend it: This book challenges the idea that parents need to control or shape every outcome. It reframes parenting as supporting growth rather than managing results. I recommend it because it helps reduce pressure and unrealistic expectatio...
The Gardener and the Carpenter: What the New Science of Child Development Tells Us About the Relationship Between Parents and Children
by Alison Gopnik
Why I recommend it: This book focuses on simplifying a child’s environment to reduce stress and behavior issues. It highlights how overstimulation can impact children’s behavior. I recommend it because it offers practical ways to create a calmer home...
Simplicity Parenting: Using the Extraordinary Power of Less to Raise Calmer, Happier, and More Secure Kids
by Kim John Payne and Lisa M. Ross