10 Parenting Books for Highly Creative Children

Although you may feel like laying down the law with your kids is the best way to teach them discipline, William Stixrud and Ned Johnson are here to tell you that micromanaging your children is not the answer. In this fascinating read, learn how trusting your kids to carve out their own unique paths is often the best thing you can do for them, and how to balance freedom with authority to optimize your creative child’s success.

In the age of what Dr. Kristen Race calls “Generation Stress,” tools like mindfulness are more important now than ever before. Childhood is the best time to learn important life skills and stress reduction techniques, especially if your children are gearing up to lead creative, successful and busy lives as they reach adulthood. Through Mindful Parenting, learn how to create a more relaxed, positive atmosphere for creative kids, and teach them valuable coping methods that will set them up for a happy, healthy life.

Fans of “hygge,” the Danish word for enjoying life’s simple pleasures, will love this book on raising happy, well-rounded children. If your children are highly creative or intelligent, it could be helpful for them to learn life skills like authenticity, empathy and play as they develop their artistic side, hone their gifts and blossom into productive adults.

With advice from a neuropsychiatrist and a parenting expert, The Whole-Brain Child is a must-read for parents looking to optimize their children’s development and help them grow into healthy, mature adults. The book offers practical tips for dealing with emotional children who are prone to temper tantrums, which could be especially helpful for gifted or highly creative kids.

Although you may think your kids are too young for money talk, the sooner you start teaching them financial life lessons, the more competent and well-adjusted they’ll be as adults. This is especially important for creative kids who are entering the workforce at an earlier age than average, such as actors or dancers, as they will need to learn to manage their money before the average child or teen.

With gifted children, it may be tempting to micromanage their creativity or act like the quintessential “stage mom”. However, in her book The Gift of Failure, writer and teacher Jessica Lahey explains how letting go and allowing your kids to experience life on their own leads to more confident, secure and responsible adults, who may be better equipped to deal with a high level of creativity or talent.

According to author Paul Tough, success as a child has nothing to do with natural talent and everything to do with character traits like perseverance and optimism. Creativity and intelligence are not always synonymous with accomplishment, so follow the advice in How Children Succeed, and set your child up for ultimate achievement by teaching them important life skills to combine with their natural creativity and talent.

A must-read for anyone who’s looking to reach their full potential in life, not only parents, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success explains how your thoughts, beliefs and overall attitude are the key ingredients for achieving great things in life. If your child is highly creative, the best way to foster their innate skills and talents may be through promoting a healthy mindset fir

Creativity is more than a one-sided endeavour: an artistic lifestyle can extend to your entire home and family. Nurture a creative child by living a creative life with tips on how to be more resourceful, support a young artist, and engage in everyday rituals from the Creative Family Manifesto. According to the manifesto, finding ways to be wild, believe in the impossible, unplug, and seek beauty are all keys to a happy and fulfilling family life.

Although it may seem harmless, imposing gender stereotypes on your children (even without realizing it) could have a detrimental effect on the development of their unique gifts and talents. In Parenting Beyond Pink & Blue, developmental psychologist Christia Spears Brown breaks down the ways in which gender norms place limits on children right out of the gate, and how parents can encourage their kids to follow their unique passions and interests.