Raising mentally strong kids How to combine the power of neuroscience with love and logic to grow confident, kind, responsible, and resilient children and young adults

Child psychologist Fay (Love and Logic Magic for Early Childhood: 2nd Edition) and neuropsychologist Amen (Conquer Your Negative Thoughts) have collectively worked with parents for more than seven decades. They devote their book to equipping parents with the tools to raise mentally healthy children, and they do so by effectively addressing both the brain and the mind of a child. Science is integrated with diagrams demonstrating how the brain develops from infancy to early adulthood, along with brain healthy habits such as empathizing with others, praying and meditating, selecting healthy foods, and processing thoughts. The two explain that a parent acts as the child's frontal lobe until the child develops their own sense of how to act and face the consequences their choices yield. There's a section on raising children up through the young adult years and one on special needs. Common challenges addressed include potty-training, sibling rivalry, bullying and teasing, peer pressure, dating, being a stepparent, and handling immature young adults. VERDICT Many parents will gain much insight into how to raise mentally healthy individuals who treat others (and self) with dignity and demonstrate empathy.