The Crucial Years: The Essential Guide to Mental Health and Modern Puberty in Middle Childhood (Ages 6–12)

The years between preschool and adolescence present unique challenges and opportunities for parents, according to this solid manual. Clinical psychologist Ziegler (Mommy Burnout) contends that during this period, the key issue children face is building confidence in their ability to master “new skills and tasks, particularly in school and social settings,” and she suggests assisting these efforts by encouraging kids to pursue such goals as learning division or attending an overnight camp. Expounding on how to lay the groundwork for strong parent-child relationships, Ziegler extols the benefits of “active listening,” which prioritizes ensuring kids feel heard over trying to solve their problems for them. Elsewhere, Ziegler recommends that parents limit screen time by banning phones from the dinner table and playdates, and that they praise kids’ intelligence and kindness instead of their appearance to avoid feeding into body image issues. Affecting case studies from Ziegler’s practice illustrate the guidance, as when she warns against putting too much pressure on children to succeed by telling how an eighth grade patient nearly burned out trying to live up to her parents’ high standards. Throughout, convenient “In a Nutshell” recaps distill the suggestions into easy-to-digest bullet points. Parents of elementary and middle schoolers will find this a boon. Agent: Jen Marshall, Aevitas Creative Management. (May)