Parenting teenagers is so different from parenting little kids. Just when you thought you were getting the hang of family life, a new teen will emerge and shift the goal posts! For parents of teens it helps to know what has worked for others when it comes to navigating boundaries, relationships and mental health and preparing adolescents for the complexities of high school.
If you’re like me, you’re looking for a practical guide written by someone who has gone before you; and someone who understands the unique demands of 21st century life for teenagers. While older family members can give us advice, there are “new” areas of teen life, like social media, that older generations haven’t had to deal with.
You are reading: Books on parenting teenagers
books for parents: finding books worth reading
One of the best ways to get the guidance you need is through a parenting book. but which one should you choose? There are so many teen parenting books to choose from, most claim to offer expert advice, but how many are true experts? How can we separate the wheat from the chaff? Well, take a deep breath and relax because I’ve done the hard work for you.
here are my top 8 books for teen parents. some are my personal favorites and others have come highly recommended by fellow psychologists, all of whom have clinical experience working with adolescents. Most of the books I recommend below are written by a mental health professional or academic who understands teens and their brains from the inside out.
brainstorming
Brainstorming: The Power and Purpose of the Teen Brain is one of my all-time favorite books for parents of teens. I recommend it to many parents of teenagers in my clinic. offers a fascinating insight into the adolescent brain, but is also highly practical. This book will increase your understanding…and your patience, and help you build strong relationships with your children. also includes practical steps and exercises to improve brain function.
inventing ourselves: the secret life of the adolescent brain
My next recommended book is Inventing Ourselves: The Secret Life of the Teenage Brain. Author Sarah-Jayne Blakemore is a world-class neuroscientist. In this award-winning book, he explores why excessive risk-taking is so common in teens and young adults, why teens are driven to have intense friendships, and why many mental illnesses begin during adolescence. ? Blakemore brings us the latest research on the adolescent brain, and this is a brilliant contribution to our understanding of the modern adolescent. it’s easy to use and doesn’t contain too much jargon. think of it as a neuroscientist’s survival guide.
See Also: Patrick Rothfuss – Book Series In Order
See Also: Desirée – Book Series In Order
you can see blakemore’s excellent talk here:
See Also: Patrick Rothfuss – Book Series In Order
Blame My Brain: The Surprising Teen Brain Revealed
Yet another book on the teenage brain that I highly recommend is Fabulous Blame My Brain: The Surprising Teenage Brain Revealed by Nicola Morgan. This humorous and down-to-earth book contains chapters on powerful emotions and mood swings, sleep, risk-taking, gender differences, and the reasons behind addiction.
untangled: guiding adolescent girls through the seven transitions to adulthood
Raising girls is a unique challenge given that the roles and expectations of girls have changed dramatically over the last century. In Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions to Adulthood, clinical psychologist Lisa Damour lays out seven predictable phases of transition that adolescent girls experience. each chapter describes one of these areas, such as “combat with adult authority” and “entering the romantic world”. she provides tips and advice for parents, equipping us to provide emotional support to our teenage daughters. she includes a helpful “when to worry” section.
how to talk so teens will listen & listen so teens talk
Author and speaker Adele Faber’s mission is to improve communication between children and adults. on how to talk so teens will listen & listening to get teens talking, she teaches skills to help parents deal with or prevent communication problems in adolescence. In this practical guide, she helps us learn subtle communication skills to foster cooperation, avoid preaching and power struggles, and develop healthy relationships.
See Also: Patrick Rothfuss – Book Series In Order
the book you wish your parents had read
philippa perry is an acclaimed psychotherapist and author. The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read is one of the best books you could read when you’re raising teenagers, though it’s helpful for every relationship in your life. the book explores how we can use our past to understand ourselves and who we are as parents. it also serves as a reminder that life is tough and that you are doing the best you can. Breakups in relationships happen and can (and should) be repaired. Perry shows us how to do it. this book was described by alain de boton as “extremely warm, wise, full of hope”. the latest version of the book has a new exclusive chapter on sibling relationships.
get the hell out of my life… but first take me and alex to town: the best selling guide for the 21st century teen
Today’s teens can be both needy and fiercely independent. sometimes it feels almost impossible to get the balance right: too nosy or too permissive. In Get Out of My Life… But First Take Me and Alex to Town: The Best-Selling Guide for the Twenty-First Century Teen, Toby Wolf and Suzanne Franks address this dilemma. is a practical book that offers constructive ways to handle complex problems and relationship stresses in everyday life, such as anger, upset, and frustration. also covers tough topics like sex, drugs, and suicide.
the gifts of imperfect parenting
See Also: Cornelia Funke – Book Series In Order
brené brown is a well-known speaker, author, and researcher who comes from a background in social work. Ella’s audiobook The Gifts of Imperfect Parenting is based on her research on vulnerability, courage, dignity, and shame. Instead of giving you direct parenting instructions, Brown shares powerful stories and simple principles to help you discover the best approach for you and her child. This book is not specifically about teenagers, but it is suitable for parents of older children as well as younger children.
See Also: Patrick Rothfuss – Book Series In Order
further reading
Teen Parenting Blog: My Top 28 Articles {2022}
31 inspirational quotes for parents in difficult times
I hope you’ve enjoyed my recommendations on books for teen parents. If you like my blog, join my free facebook group for regular tips on how to support teens and tweens with their mental health. join the group: parenting tips for positive child mental health in the uk.
See Also: Patrick Rothfuss – Book Series In Order
See Also: Patrick Rothfuss – Book Series In Order