THE KID CODE

In this self-help work, Miller, a conflict-resolution instructor, provides guidance on finding joy in the parenting journey.

Children, the author asserts, can be wiser than adults, as they’re full of confidence and faith and equally eager to teach and to learn. However, many parents, in their desire to educate and protect youth, frequently impose their own fears, stressors, and limiting beliefs, which kids may internalize. Miller seeks to challenge this general parenting approach while encouraging greater acceptance of oneself and others on a broader scale. Over the course of this book, Miller draws on a concept she refers to as the “ABCs,” which stands for “Authentically Be Conscious.” Specifically, she promotes a strategy that focuses on mindfulness and setting examples and that discourages reactive punishment strategies. She effectively communicates this in a series of “30 Second Parenting Strategies,” which apply compassion-based techniques to real-world scenarios, such as coping with tantrums, picky eaters, teenage rebelliousness, and excessive screen time. Although Miller tackles a variety of topics, readers may find that the most crucial aspect of the book is her focus on challenging and reversing negative beliefs, which, she says, limit adults’ and children’s potential. To that end, she aptly and logically points out that such beliefs are often internalized perspectives of others and don’t necessarily convey the truth of a given situation. This knowledge may well empower readers to break free from detrimental cycles, such as harmful perfectionism, while building constructive communication habits.

A helpful and practical book about nurturing helpful beliefs in one’s children and oneself.