Member Reviews

We all want to become better parents for our children and yet our children did not come with a HOW TO or a book of instructions. Fear not, because this book lays it out in a very clear, no fluff, and easy to read book outlining in an easy to remember guide full of examples and scenarios.
It is no surprise the success of our children is dependent on how present we are for them and will actually serve as a predictor for their success in life as far as their personal and academic success, the development of their leadership skills and their future relationships with others. Being present does not have to cost a lot of time, money or energy, but to showing up and being there in the moment, and the quality of your presence makes all the difference.
The information Siegel and Bryson present in this book are backed up by science and well-grounded and proven research. I fell that the information in the book is something that I can trust as far as the validity of the information they are presenting.
I enjoy the highlights and pictures in the book to emphasize the topics that are being presented and reinforces the material covered. I also enjoy the real life scenarios and examples on how to handle situations you may encounter from a bad example to the best way to handle certain situations. The writing is easy to understand and the information presented is enjoyable and makes for an easy read.
I loved this book and will be using it as a resource. This is a must read for would be and current parents and grandparents as well as educators. I highly recommend this book and would make great gifts for parents.

Was this review helpful?

When I saw that authors Siegel and Bryson were releasing a new parenting book, I couldn't request The Power of Showing Up fast enough! Their past writing has been such a formative part of my own parenting.

Siegel and Bryson always share their knowledge, research, and experiences in an accessible and compassionate way. While they have decades of work in this area they make brain development and psychology approachable and easy to understand have the ability to write in a way that makes you feel heard while also empowering you with new tools and ideas. 

The Power of Showing Up is another wonderful addition to their collection of books that speak to you whether you are a parent, caregiver, teacher, etc. They take on attachment theory and share the powerful reminder that the most important thing we can do for our children and to be there for them.

Doing this, we can teach and show them the value of comfort, support and unconditional love through both the highs and lows of being humans. They explain how we can do this through the idea of the "Four S's"...being seen, safe, soothed and secure.

As a person who experienced insecure attachment as a child, I often hyper-focus on our children always knowing they are heard and loved, while also dealing with the reality that parenting is never-ending and sometimes I lose my cool.

The reality is, everyone makes mistakes, and it is what we do next that is far more important. While I know this in theory, having it presented in an insightful and accessible manner is something I will always remember. I could go on and on about this book but I will just say that I highly recommend it and got so much out of it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I'm so glad I read this book. It was illuminating to me both as a daughter and as a mother. My children are young adults now (18 and 19), and I found myself wishing I had known this information when they were young. The concepts are still pertinent, though, and I will be looking for opportunities to continue to "show up" for my kids, even at this stage.

As a teacher, though, I found my mind continually drifting to classroom applications. After reading this, I felt like I better understood my students and the difficulties they face, and most importantly, I have new ideas for interventions. The book relies on data, and both the data and the science was shared clearly and accessibly. I will definitely keep chewing on this info. I feel like I got real, actionable info from this book and I definitely recommend it.

I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion, which I am always happy to give. My thanks to the author and publisher for this opportunity! #NetGalley #ThePowerOfShowingUp

Was this review helpful?

A child's happiness, academic success, leadership skills, and meaningful relationships are determined primarily by their connection to at least one caring adult. "The Power Of Showing Up" helps adults discover how to be that one adult who is present with and for their children.
In the book, authors Daniel Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson discuss four S's that are essential for every child. Children must feel safe, seen, soothed, and secure. The chapters share stories, scripts, simple strategies, illustrations, and tips parents can use to give their children the four S's.
It's true that parents and caregivers may mess up and not be present. This book also reveals how to repair mistakes and become an adult who shows up.
I appreciated much of the insight in this book. It's easy to read, and the information is interesting for the most part. However, the beginning chapters are repetitive and frequently reference other books written by the authors, which I found annoying. I also wanted a bit more meat about how to show up rather than just information about why we should show up.
Overall, "The Power of Showing Up" is a helpful book for any adult with a child in their life. It provides a good introduction to why and how we can be present for and invest in our children.

Was this review helpful?

I absolutely loved the whole-brain child and was excited to read this book by the same authors.

My top two takeaways from this book were 1) you don’t have to be a perfect parent. Just showing up and supporting your kid is what matters most. And 2) insights into how you were raised impacting how you parent. This is obvious but they actually explain it based on how the brain works which was fascinating.

The thing I love about these authors is that they make psychology and brain science approachable and explain it in a way for almost anyone to understand.

There were some really great insights, but overall I don’t think it resonated as deeply as the whole-brain child did for me. Also some sections felt a bit repetitive, and some of the blurbs and cartoons felt unnecessary.

Was this review helpful?

I had this as an ARC from netgalley. This book looked interesting on a personal level and a career level.
It talks about the most important thing you can do for kids- showing up. There is some great info on what happens if no one showed up for you when you were younger and how to work through that so your future generations won’t have that same turmoil and insecure feelings.
This was good because they spelled out the more scientific areas, gave you a layman’s view but also directed you to where you could read more if you liked the science side of things.
Some of the info I felt like they repeated themselves. There were some great takeaways for my own children and the children I work with at school.
A great read to have another tool under your belt for helping kids and their emotions.

Was this review helpful?

This book focuses on attachments and how simply showing up for your child allows you to build a foundation that allows for a successful relationship.

I am sad that parents need to be educated on such information, but sharing resources like this can only be beneficial to our children and their future.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Was this review helpful?

This book clearly and concisely summarizes attachment theory for the lay person. Parents and teachers can benefit from understanding the information in the book and it is a great tool for mental health professionals to use to support their work with teachers and families.

Was this review helpful?

Wow. SO many parts of this book resonated with me and brought me to tears. I long suspected that I had an insecure ambivalent attachment style, due to the way I was raised and how my mother was with me. This book confirmed it and has renewed my intention to give my son a better life than what I had. Everyone should read this book, even if you dont have excessive amounts of childhood trauma.

Was this review helpful?

Daniel Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson’s “The Power of Showing Up,” is a magnificent and astute text to help parents raise children who become secure-functioning adults. Their humor, wisdom, and down-to-earth writing will equip, empower, and encourage, all those who read their timely work. The ripple effects of such transformative information will be felt for decades and even centuries to come. I highly recommend this gem!

Was this review helpful?

This is a book I would recommend all parents read. Your child doesn’t need fancy toys, the latest electronics or exotic trips. Your child need you!

Was this review helpful?