Summary of Daniel J. Siegel's The Whole-Brain Child offers recommendations for a whole-brain approach to parenting. This approach emphasizes the importance of integrating the four quadrants of a child's brain, whether in challenging or joyous moments. Geared toward the brain development of children from birth to age 12, the whole-brain approach includes 12 parenting strategies based on current brain research, as well as a concise breakdown that describes how to apply these strategies at different ages and stages. When children are taught to use their whole brain, they become more balanced and healthy overall with a heightened capacity for self-awareness, empathy, and relationship-building.

Most parents want their children to thrive, to be happy, resilient, productive, and engaged. Yet, caring for a developing child is trying, as children are prone to tantrums, bouts of outsized fears, and other challenging behaviors. In such moments, many parents just hope to survive...