Parent Education Resource
Emotional Well-Being

Readings for Adults

Most of these books are available to borrow Parker’s Kovler Family Library as either physical copies or e-books, and all the books should be available through public libraries. We encourage you to make any purchases of books through your favorite independent booksellers.
Discussing Political Violence and Extremism with Young People
by Anti-Defamation League

Recommended by Counseling Department

ADL has advice on talking to children about the siege at the Capitol on January 6, 2021.

Topics: Conversations with Children, Emotions, Violence
Driven to Distraction
by HALLOWELL, Dr. Edward

Recommended by Counseling Department

Book for parents/guardians and teens with ADHD

Topics: ADHD, Coping, Ability, Identity
World Kindness Day 2020: 25 ways to be kind today
by HETTER, Katia
Recommended by Counseling Department

This article from CNN Health stresses that "doing good is good for you," and has suggestions for being kind to yourself, making kindness a family value, kindness for the community and kindness for the earth

Topics: Kindness, Family,
Helping Children with Anxiety in the Pandemic
by KLASS, Dr. Perri

Recommended by Counseling Department

Article for parents/guardians

Topics: Anxiety, COVID-19
How to talk to your children about protests and racism
by LAMOTTE, Sandee

Recommended by Counseling Department

Talking to your children
This article from June 2020 suggests age-appropriate ways to address talking to children about protests.

Topics: DEI, Racism, Conversations with children, Violence
Anxious Kids, Anxious Parents: 7 Ways to Stop the Worry Cycle and Raise Courageous and Independent Children
by LYONS, Lynn

Recommended by Counseling Department

Book for parents/guardians

Topics: Anxiety
Talking to Children about Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers
by National Association of School Psychologists

Recommended by Counseling Department

Talking to children about violence

NASP has suggestions and talking points for discussing violence with children.

Topics: Conversations with Children, Emotions, Violence
Talking to Kids About the Attack on the Capitol
by National Education Association

Recommended by Counseling Department

As the title suggests, the NEA has written this article with suggestions for reassuring children that they are safe while providing age-appropriate explanations.

Topics: Conversations with children, Emotions, Violence
Self-Compassion
by NEFF, Dr Kristin

Recommended by Counseling Department
Book for parents/guardians

There is an alternative to self-esteem that many experts believe is a better and more effective path to happiness: self-compassion. The research of Dr. Kristin Neff  indicates that people who are compassionate toward their failings and imperfections experience greater well-being than those who repeatedly judge themselves.

Topics: Self-compassion, Self-acceptance, Self-esteem
But How’d I Get in There in the First Place? Talking to your young child about sex
by ROFFMAN, Deborah M.

Recommended by School Nurse

Book for parents/guardians of young children

Wonderful common sense approach to talking to young children about sex. Every parent should read this.

Topics: Sex Ed
Sex and Sensibility. The Thinking Parents Guide to Talking Sense about Sex
by ROFFMAN, Deborah M.

Recommended by School Nurse

Book for parents/guardians of older children

Wonderful common sense approach to talking to older children about sex. Every parent should read this.

Topics: Sex Ed, Puberty
“Talking About Race”
by Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture

Recommended by Counseling Department

The National Museum of African American History and Culture launched a new online portal "designed to help individuals, families and communities talk about racism, racial identity and the way these forces shape every aspect of society."


Topics: Race, Racism, Racial Identity
Support for You and Your Students: Chaos at the U.S. Capitol
by TARSHIS, Lauren

Recommended by Counseling Department

The people at Scholastic Classroom Magazine have assembled several age-appropriate articles for discussing the events at the Capitol on January 6, 2021.

Topics: Conversations with Children, Emotions, Violence
Why are all the Black Kids Sitting Together and Other Conversations About Race
by TATUM, Beverly Daniel 

Book for parents/guardians
Recommended by SEED Facilitators

Beverly Daniel Tatum, a renowned authority on the psychology of racism, argues that straight talk about our racial identities is essential if we are serious about enabling communication across racial and ethnic divides.

Topics: Race, Race relations, Racial Identity
Teens Did Surprisingly Well in Quarantine
by TWENGE, Jean M.

Recommended by Counseling Department

This article from the Atlantic summarizing a survey of teens from May to July 2020 in which they assessed mental well-being and found that teens benefitted from more sleep, slower pace of life and more times with families.

Topics: COVID-19, Family, Adolescence
How Teens are Making Meaning Out of the Pandemic
by WARREN, Michael T.

Recommended by Counseling Department

This article from Greater Good Magazine describes how some adolescents are making meaning out of the pandemic

Topics: COVID-19, Family, Adolescence
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