Hold On to Your Kids

Why I'd hand it to you

Gordon Neufeld, a developmental psychologist, and Gabor Maté, a physician, argue that many kids have become more attached to their peers than to their parents, and that this makes them harder to raise and more vulnerable. They urge parents to rebuild that connection so kids can grow into mature adults. The argument feels even more urgent today. My caution: it was written before smartphones and social media, so it doesn't address today's technology directly. It is also dense and repetitive in places. The core message, that relationship comes before discipline, still applies to every family.

— Matt Jordan