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Smart Parenting, Smarter Kids: The One Brain Book You Need to Help Kids Grow Smarter, Healthier, and Happier
Every week new discoveries about the brain make the news, often promising parents the latest “right” way to nurture their kids’ developing brains and behavior. And every day there’s a new technology that demands your child’s attention, a new game or toy that purports to make your kid smarter, and a new snack promising to be healthy as well as tasty. How’s a busy parent to make heads or tails of all these claims? You turn to Dr. David Walsh, an expert at translating the headline-making, cutting-edge findings into practical suggestions for parenting today. In his previous bestseller, Why Do They Act That Way? , Walsh showed how to manage the difficult teenage years by understanding how the adolescent brain develops. Now he’s written a complete guide to parenting from birth through the teen years, with recommendations that will help maximize any child’s potential.
Smart Parenting, Smarter Kids doesn’t just describe new research findings or explain interesting brain facts. It equips parents with usable information across a range of topics, like exercise, nutrition, play, sleep, stress, self-discipline, emotional intelligence, and connection. Some discoveries in neuroscience confirm age-old parental wisdom while others may prompt you to make immediate changes. Still other brain discoveries help explain behaviors that have puzzled parents forever, like why friendly, easygoing kids can become withdrawn and sullen dragons overnight when they enter adolescence, or why girls and boys tend to have such different classroom experiences.
Filled with helpful quizzes and checklists for easy reference, Smart Parenting, Smarter Kids gives specific advice about how to make the best daycare, preschool, and schooling decisions for your kids; for example, how to deal with stressful events as a family, and how to manage your child’s internet and media use. And all these findings across different fields of research work together in reaching the same When children are guided to eat, sleep, play, exercise, learn, and connect with others in healthy ways, their minds blossom and they are able to reach their full potential—academically, socially, physically, and emotionally. These real-life applications in Dr. Walsh’s new book put science into practice with a personal plan that explains how (and why) you can parent with the brain in mind.
Smart Parenting, Smarter Kids doesn’t just describe new research findings or explain interesting brain facts. It equips parents with usable information across a range of topics, like exercise, nutrition, play, sleep, stress, self-discipline, emotional intelligence, and connection. Some discoveries in neuroscience confirm age-old parental wisdom while others may prompt you to make immediate changes. Still other brain discoveries help explain behaviors that have puzzled parents forever, like why friendly, easygoing kids can become withdrawn and sullen dragons overnight when they enter adolescence, or why girls and boys tend to have such different classroom experiences.
Filled with helpful quizzes and checklists for easy reference, Smart Parenting, Smarter Kids gives specific advice about how to make the best daycare, preschool, and schooling decisions for your kids; for example, how to deal with stressful events as a family, and how to manage your child’s internet and media use. And all these findings across different fields of research work together in reaching the same When children are guided to eat, sleep, play, exercise, learn, and connect with others in healthy ways, their minds blossom and they are able to reach their full potential—academically, socially, physically, and emotionally. These real-life applications in Dr. Walsh’s new book put science into practice with a personal plan that explains how (and why) you can parent with the brain in mind.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published June 14, 2011
19 people are currently reading
134 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
July 3, 2011
This book was kind of a disappointment for me. It mostly presented research that I was already familiar with from other brain/child development books. But, that's not really what disappointed me. The problem with this book, for me, was the way it was written. It is written for an audience of idiots. The research presented here was done so in a way that all complexity was flattened into nothing. The chapters begin with a pre-test and end with a list of dos and don'ts. and the advice the book gave (let kids play, have them eat nonprocessed foods, etc.) was so common sense that it made me wonder why it needed to be said at all. Does the author think his audience is stupid? Or, is it really the case that people who are having children today can't figure it out on their own that "potato chips and soda" are not a meal? Furthermore, would people who are that clueless even read a parenting book?
April 2, 2018
I've been getting more into the brain science of parenting and the reasons why many children are the way they are. This book has been very insightful from beginning to end. However, it is not meant to be a step-by-step guide to parenting, but to reach further understanding on why kids act the way they act, why they do things the way they do, and what can help their inner functioning (I.E. their brains) and why and how these things help. It's a good gateway book to variety of topics in relation to children/parenting/neurology with sources aplenty provided by the author, David Walsh. From emotional intelligence to the science and importance of play, Dr. Walsh is known to deliver on informing people seeking more information to aid them in the long journey that is parenting.
He is rather engaging in his writing and not once have I felt bored, even when it came to learning about neurology. If you are not too interested in psychology, skip this book. If are more science-oriented, this is a must-read, and if you wish to know more about the topics he discusses, he kindly provides names of innovative books that expand on particular subjects. I initially borrowed this book from the local library, but I am highly encouraged to buy it for future reference!
He is rather engaging in his writing and not once have I felt bored, even when it came to learning about neurology. If you are not too interested in psychology, skip this book. If are more science-oriented, this is a must-read, and if you wish to know more about the topics he discusses, he kindly provides names of innovative books that expand on particular subjects. I initially borrowed this book from the local library, but I am highly encouraged to buy it for future reference!
August 10, 2017
It helped me understand kids better, basically that there are born empty brain and we can mend them and answer their curiosity. The biological developmental of kids especially the brain and science behind growth of nerve cells. Neurological and psychological ailments.
There sleeping needs.
There sleeping needs.
November 11, 2022
A helpful book for parents to remind them that parenting is an art, and how brain science can help you practice your craft better. Nutrition, exercise, screen time, curfews, memory, self-discipline, stress, bullying, and how to help them through school are all very helpful chapters in this book.
September 1, 2011
I received this book through the Good Reads First Reads program in exchange for an honest review -
I *loved* this book.
No, seriously, I really enjoyed it. I found it interesting, the way the author tied in all of the information about the brain and how it works and develops. So this book is so much more than just a guide to parenting. Sure, it goes into things like attention, nutrition, play, exercise, sleep (and much, much more), but it also ties these things into how they relate to the brain. It really fascinated me.
The author tells us the emphasis of this book is "science made practical", and I really do think that he did a wonderful job of making all of the available information about brain development and function (etc) relate-able. And it doesn't come off like a text book, it's written in a way where it keeps your attention and is easy to read.
Each chapter has a list of do's and don'ts, a parent tool kit, and finishes with asking the reader what they want to continue doing and what they want to change. Given all of the information and tools available, this book really does offer a "personal plan to parent with the brain in mind."
I love how it finishes by offering parenting basics that aren't just related to all of the information about the brain, but instead are common pieces of advice given to parents, such as relax and don't be too hard on yourself - or slow down and find balance. So his attitude doesn't come off as though he knows better about raising children then we do. In fact, he tells us :
"This book brings you up to date with brain science discoveries to aid you in the most important job of your life : raising your children. But, of course, parenting is an art, not a science. Science informs the art, but there is no book anywhere that can dictate the correct answer or strategy for the millions of decisions we make from the moment we embark on our parenting journey to the day we help our kids load up the U-Haul to strike out on their own" (page 411 of my manuscript copy)
This book is an excellent resource for any parent with children of any age, as it breaks down into the various age and development groups. He isn't lying when he tells us that "whether you're pregnant with your first child or trying to figure out why adolescents act the way they do, you'll find important information and practical advice." (page 11 of manuscript copy)
I would recommend this to any parent I know. And I know, as my child ages and his brain continues to develop, I'll continue to return to this book as a resource. :)
I *loved* this book.
No, seriously, I really enjoyed it. I found it interesting, the way the author tied in all of the information about the brain and how it works and develops. So this book is so much more than just a guide to parenting. Sure, it goes into things like attention, nutrition, play, exercise, sleep (and much, much more), but it also ties these things into how they relate to the brain. It really fascinated me.
The author tells us the emphasis of this book is "science made practical", and I really do think that he did a wonderful job of making all of the available information about brain development and function (etc) relate-able. And it doesn't come off like a text book, it's written in a way where it keeps your attention and is easy to read.
Each chapter has a list of do's and don'ts, a parent tool kit, and finishes with asking the reader what they want to continue doing and what they want to change. Given all of the information and tools available, this book really does offer a "personal plan to parent with the brain in mind."
I love how it finishes by offering parenting basics that aren't just related to all of the information about the brain, but instead are common pieces of advice given to parents, such as relax and don't be too hard on yourself - or slow down and find balance. So his attitude doesn't come off as though he knows better about raising children then we do. In fact, he tells us :
"This book brings you up to date with brain science discoveries to aid you in the most important job of your life : raising your children. But, of course, parenting is an art, not a science. Science informs the art, but there is no book anywhere that can dictate the correct answer or strategy for the millions of decisions we make from the moment we embark on our parenting journey to the day we help our kids load up the U-Haul to strike out on their own" (page 411 of my manuscript copy)
This book is an excellent resource for any parent with children of any age, as it breaks down into the various age and development groups. He isn't lying when he tells us that "whether you're pregnant with your first child or trying to figure out why adolescents act the way they do, you'll find important information and practical advice." (page 11 of manuscript copy)
I would recommend this to any parent I know. And I know, as my child ages and his brain continues to develop, I'll continue to return to this book as a resource. :)
October 3, 2011
I won a copy of this through First Reads! Oddly, the copy I received is an advanced uncorrected proof, so the cover looks nothing like the one pictured here. Also, the title is different. Mine reads "Nurturing Your Child's Intelligence: The One Brain Book..."
It feels a little unfair to review this book considered I read an uncorrected proof. I wonder how many of the things I didn't like have been corrected in the final book.
There are plenty of lessons to be learned from this book, though I felt the writing style was too simplistic. There are many mock conversations that take place, and they seem totally made up or at least dumbed down. There are true/false questions early on in each chapter so you can test your knowledge of the chapter's topic. You're meant to answer all the questions "true", which seems to defeat the purpose of having it set up like a quiz to begin with. Then at the end of the chapter, there's a simple do/don't list to recap what was learned in the chapter. I didn't like that aspect of the book either.
I also didn't like the author suggesting that if you just explain to teenagers that their feelings of angst or sadness are a result of brain development, then they'll somehow be okay. It was interesting to understand adolescent brain changes from an adult perspective, but to suggest that you could improve the outlook of a teenager by giving them a science lesson is ridiculous.
Those nit-picky things aside, the information in the book is valuable. If I had to recommend this book or Ellen Galinsky's Mind in the Making, I'd go with Galinsky's book. It feels more academic whereas this book felt ever-so-slightly condescending to me. I wouldn't write this book off altogether, but I guess I had higher hopes for it.
It feels a little unfair to review this book considered I read an uncorrected proof. I wonder how many of the things I didn't like have been corrected in the final book.
There are plenty of lessons to be learned from this book, though I felt the writing style was too simplistic. There are many mock conversations that take place, and they seem totally made up or at least dumbed down. There are true/false questions early on in each chapter so you can test your knowledge of the chapter's topic. You're meant to answer all the questions "true", which seems to defeat the purpose of having it set up like a quiz to begin with. Then at the end of the chapter, there's a simple do/don't list to recap what was learned in the chapter. I didn't like that aspect of the book either.
I also didn't like the author suggesting that if you just explain to teenagers that their feelings of angst or sadness are a result of brain development, then they'll somehow be okay. It was interesting to understand adolescent brain changes from an adult perspective, but to suggest that you could improve the outlook of a teenager by giving them a science lesson is ridiculous.
Those nit-picky things aside, the information in the book is valuable. If I had to recommend this book or Ellen Galinsky's Mind in the Making, I'd go with Galinsky's book. It feels more academic whereas this book felt ever-so-slightly condescending to me. I wouldn't write this book off altogether, but I guess I had higher hopes for it.
November 11, 2013
After several stops and starts with this book, I finally made it all the way through. It's not that the content wasn't interesting, I'm just more of a fiction and/or biography fan. This was a great book in parenting. What I really liked is that Walsh took all of the current brain research, explained it in terms for people like me and then presented good parenting ideas based on that research. While some of what he said was familiar and reaffirmed what I had found to be true in practice, I learned from reading this book. His points on nutrition and memory were good reminders. He also addressed sleep and exercise and the importance of both. He spent some time addressing adolescents, and I found what he had to say there really fit what we are experiencing, it made me want to read his book Why Do They Act That Way? about adolescents. All in all, I felt it was a worthwhile read. I especially liked the end of the book where Walsh noted "old" parenting advice and talked about how most of it fit with current brain research.
July 26, 2011
First of all, the book's title is Smart Parenting, Smarter Kids. I'm not sure why Goodreads can't read that in Amazon when I imported it.
This book is what Mind in the Making should have been: an easy to read guide that transforms nicely summarized brain studies into specific suggestions for parenting with a dollop of personal parenting narrative tossed in. The brevity and lack of academic lingo make this book shine, though the author occasionally throws in some old-fogey fear-mongering. For example, he suggests you look for the signs of gaming addiction in your children, and if necessary, remove the computer games from their room. Unfortunately, as many games are online, the only way to prevent them from playing computer games would be to remove the computers. However, these slips are few and far between. As a whole, it serves as a great guide to new parents who are looking for some research to back up their parenting practices.
This book is what Mind in the Making should have been: an easy to read guide that transforms nicely summarized brain studies into specific suggestions for parenting with a dollop of personal parenting narrative tossed in. The brevity and lack of academic lingo make this book shine, though the author occasionally throws in some old-fogey fear-mongering. For example, he suggests you look for the signs of gaming addiction in your children, and if necessary, remove the computer games from their room. Unfortunately, as many games are online, the only way to prevent them from playing computer games would be to remove the computers. However, these slips are few and far between. As a whole, it serves as a great guide to new parents who are looking for some research to back up their parenting practices.
January 4, 2012
I thought this was an excellent book for advice on how to help your child be as bright and healthy as they can be. A lot of the advice is common sense--read to your child, sleep and exercise are important, etc.--but it was interesting to me to read the research behind it. The chapter that talked about the importance of praising your child for working hard instead of for an innate ability (ie. being "smart") floored me because I could see the effects of it in my own life and I shared it with many members of my own family so we can utilize the advice as my daughter grows up. That alone, to me, was invaluable. I had to return it to the library before I finished it, but I'd like to add it to my library at some point for a reference and to lend out.
April 17, 2013
Book has a wide range of parenting tips that start nearly at birth; sound advice, straight-forward, well written, but because my kids are older by now, I felt David Walsh's other book, WHY Do They Act That Way?: A Survival Guide to the Adolescent Brain for You and Your Teen was more relevant to our lives. This book was also more simplistically written than his other books; honestly, I'm not counting that as a huge negative because at the early stages of raising kids, I was so sleep deprived and over-whelmed that a more complicated text might have been over-whelming.
May 27, 2013
Some say this book is so much like his others that its repetitive. I disagree. I highly recommend his other book, Why do they act that way. And while there is some overlap in information between these two books the differ in several ways. First it covers birth through teens and additionally it has incorporated more data that has been gleaned since 2004. It is also updated in regards to media, internet, iphones, etc. Even if you know much of this material read it for its reinforcement potential as we all have a way of slipping back into old patterns.
May 1, 2014
I liked the book overall. The author holds the same views as I already do in raising kids, and gives good pointers and suggestions.
The only bad comments I have is that I read the book because I am in my late 20s and just had a baby. I'm more interested in the information for babies and toddlers, which he presented well. But, the book seems to be aimed at people who are more in their 40s or have older children (based on his comments about media use, etc).
Overall, I found the book extremely useful. A little obvious sometimes, but reminders never hurt.
The only bad comments I have is that I read the book because I am in my late 20s and just had a baby. I'm more interested in the information for babies and toddlers, which he presented well. But, the book seems to be aimed at people who are more in their 40s or have older children (based on his comments about media use, etc).
Overall, I found the book extremely useful. A little obvious sometimes, but reminders never hurt.
October 10, 2011
Currently reading this book and loving it. Talked a lot about making sure to teach our children that they have to work hard to succeed. Instead of saying "your very smart" you say "You worked really hard at your multiplication and that why you succeeded."
Would recommend to anyone with kids, that's around kids, or works with kids!
Would recommend to anyone with kids, that's around kids, or works with kids!
November 1, 2011
Awesome! This book uses brain-based research (neuroscience) to back up parenting tips and information on how/why kids are the way they are. I find books like this so interesting! I borrowed this from the library, but liked it so much I want to get my own copy. It's one of those books you'll want to thumb through many times.
August 28, 2011
couldn't finish this book. about half way through I felt like the author was just repeating himself. it's mostly common sense; you want smart kids. . . feed them healthy foods, spend time with them, and read to them.
May 28, 2012
All the info here is good, but not necessarily new. If you like to learn about the science/brain operations behind some good parenting technique, this is the book for you. Personally, I preferred "NO" by Walsh.
March 7, 2013
This book didn't tell me much that I didn't already know, and I was not a fan of the writing style. Much of this information is either common sense or is available in more interesting format in Nurture Shock.
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January 3, 2012I really just skimmed this book...nothing all that new.
February 7, 2012
A good book that communicates the importance of understanding brain science to help kids (and adults) achieve a higher potential.
January 3, 2016
Good book to read esp. for Pre Teen/Teen parents
July 15, 2014
Good book for parenting
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews