The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child's Developing Mind by Daniel J. Siegel M.D. and Tina Payne Bryson

Intended Audience: Parents, Carers, Educator, therapists, or school staff members  

Written By a Neurodivergent: No, but both are highly respected within the neurodivergent community

Audio Companion Available: Yes

Neuro Affirming Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

WHY YOU SHOULD READ THIS BOOK

Understanding a child’s brain development is essential for fostering emotional intelligence, resilience, and strong relationships. In The Whole-Brain Child, Dr. Dan Siegel and Dr. Tina Payne Bryson translate groundbreaking neuroscience research into practical, easy-to-apply strategies for parents, educators, and caregivers. 

This book explores how different regions of a child’s brain—particularly the emotional (right) and logical (left) hemispheres—develop and interact. By understanding these processes, caregivers can respond more effectively to emotional outbursts, fears, and challenges, helping children integrate both hemispheres for more balanced, thoughtful responses.

The Whole-Brain Child provides tools that help children develop emotional regulation, problem-solving skills, and a deeper understanding of their own minds.

With accessible explanations, real-life examples, and age-appropriate techniques, The Whole-Brain Child is an essential guide for anyone looking to nurture emotional and cognitive growth in children. By applying these insights, caregivers can strengthen their connection with children, helping them build the skills to navigate life’s challenges with confidence and resilience.

ABOUT THE READER

Elisabeth Anderson is a neuro affirming neurodivergent school psychologist with 10 years of public service and is the owner of Connected Family Practice. She is also the Director of Assessment for The ABLE Center.  Elisabeth has been recognized by families, colleagues, and school administrators for her leadership and knowledge as a policy writer, consultant and trainer. Elisabeth’s insights have made her a sought after internship supervisor.  Elisabeth believes that families should be able to find the supports they need both during and after the identification process to build greater understanding of neurodivergent brains, their needs, and potential support options. 

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Elisabeth’s Neuro Affirming Likert Rating Scale

⭐️: The resource contains language or content that perpetuates stereotypes, stigma, or misinformation about neurodiversity. It fails to use respectful and inclusive terminology, and may even promote harmful attitudes towards neurodiverse individuals.

⭐️⭐️: The resource makes some attempts at inclusivity, but still falls short in using affirming language and portraying neurodiversity in a positive light. It may contain instances of language or content that could be perceived as insensitive or exclusionary.

⭐️⭐️⭐️: The resource generally demonstrates a decent level of neurodiversity affirming language and content. It makes efforts to use respectful terminology and accurately portrays neurodiverse experiences, although there may still be room for improvement in certain areas.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: The resource consistently uses affirming language and content to depict neurodiversity in a positive and respectful manner. It actively challenges stereotypes and promotes understanding and acceptance of neurodiverse individuals and communities.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: The resource excels in its use of neurodiversity affirming language and content. It goes above and beyond to accurately represent the diverse experiences of neurodiverse individuals, fostering a sense of belonging and empowerment. It serves as a valuable resource for promoting inclusivity and understanding in both neurodiverse and neurotypical audiences.