The Power of Showing Up: How Parental Presence Shapes Who Our Kids Become and How Their Brains Get Wired

In this encouraging and empowering book, psychiatrist Siegel (Aware) and clinical social worker Bryson provide steps for parents and caregivers to help children attain success and “feel at home in the world.” The single most important thing parents can do, the authors write, is to simply be present, both physically and emotionally. Based on “attachment science” and “interpersonal neurobiology,” Siegel and Payne reveal that the parent-child relationship will “literally mold the physical structure of” a child’s brain, greatly influencing the rest of his or her life. Readers will learn about “predictable care” through the “Four S’s”—helping children feel safe, seen, soothed, and secure—with a separate section devoted to each “S.” The authors repeatedly provide encouragement to parents who may not have experienced secure attachment behavior in their own childhoods, and provide questions in each section to help parents understand their own experiences and therefore the formative influences on their parenting style. Thanks to this excellent work, Siegel and Payne will leave readers with an empathetic and helpful philosophy to apply to their own parenting. (Jan.)