Raising resilience How to help our children thrive in times of uncertainty

A child's bond with their parents can help them endure hardship and adapt to change, according to this perceptive manual from Klein (How Toddlers Thrive), director of Barnard College's Center for Toddler Development. She encourages parents to instill a sense of emotional safety in children, teach them to regulate their emotions, and allow them to make mistakes within reasonable limits. A mix of research and patient stories undergird the advice. For instance, Klein notes that modeling behaviors around the house can assist kids in peer settings and cites a longitudinal study that found children who were given the chance to negotiate with parents were less likely to give in to peer pressure as teens, since they had experience pushing back against exhortations. Elsewhere, Klein urges parents to praise effort rather than achievement, discussing how a 10-year-old patient developed debilitating anxiety whenever she encountered challenging schoolwork because family members lauded her for her academic accomplishments, leading the child to believe her family's love was conditional upon performing well in school. The guidance is practical and empathetic, and the patient stories humanize discussions of the scientific literature on child development. This will be a boon for parents. Agent: Yfat Reiss Gendell, YGR Partners. (Sept.)