The Power of Showing Up

By the New York Times bestselling authors of The Whole-Brain Child and No-Drama Discipline.

What’s the one thing a parent can do to make the most difference to their child in the long term? The research is clear: be present, show up!

One of the best predictors for any child’s future happiness and success is whether at least one adult in their life has consistently shown up for them. With all of today’s demands and distractions, this might sound like a tall order. But as bestselling parenting experts Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson reassuringly explain, showing up doesn’t take a lot of time, energy, or money. It’s simple to do once you understand the four building blocks of a child’s healthy development: making them feel safe, seen, soothed, and secure.

Based on the latest brain and attachment research, The Power of Showing Up shares stories, scripts, simple strategies, illustrations, and tips for when our kids are struggling or when they’re enjoying success; when we’re consoling, disciplining, or arguing with them; and even when we’re apologising for the times we haven’t shown up for them. Demonstrating that it’s never too late to correct mistakes and mend broken trust, this is a powerful guide to cultivating your child’s healthy emotional landscape.

‘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” ... Thanks to this excellent work, Siegel and Payne will leave readers with an empathetic and helpful philosophy to apply to their own parenting.’

Publishers Weekly

‘At a cultural moment when many kids feel more competition with their parents’ devices than with their siblings, Daniel Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson have spun a miracle — The Power of Showing Up is the ultimate guide to family reconnection. Clear, profound, and charmingly illustrated, it unravels the challenges of modern parenting and reveals the simple truths about what children really need from the adults in their lives.’

-- Dr Wendy Mogel, New York Times bestselling author of The Blessing of a Skinned Knee and The Blessing of a B Minus

‘Daniel Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson have written their best book yet — and that is saying a lot. They have distilled their parenting wisdom — based on neuroscience research and a deep empathy for children’s needs — into a profound concept: showing up. It is one of those great ideas that seems so obvious — but only after someone has shown it to you and spelled it out clearly. Best of all, Siegel and Bryson “show up” for the reader of this book. They know parents, know their fears and anxieties, hopes and dreams. They know that showing up for children is harder than it sounds, and they provide an accessible path to seeing and soothing children and providing them with safety and security.’

-- Lawrence J. Cohen, PhD, author of Playful Parenting

‘This hopeful new book goes to the heart of every parent’s greatest wish: to raise a child who grows up to be a secure adult. In an unpredictable world, that can feel almost impossible. Drs Siegel and Bryson teach us how a parent can make a child feel safe, seen, soothed and secure, even if he or she didn't have that in their own childhoods. There is parenting magic in this book.’

-- Michael Thompson, PhD, co-author of the New York Times bestselling classic, Raising Cain

‘Parenting at this moment in time and at today’s pace feels hard. But that makes it all that much more important that we try to simplify the process of parenting and not put quite so much pressure on our own parenting shoulders. The Power Showing Up will help you do just that. Dan Siegel and Tina Payne are master teachers when it comes to helping parents react and respond to kids in ways that communicate “I hear you”. They articulate and quantify how to make your parenting easier — and better!’

-- Christine Carter, PhD, author of Raising Happiness

‘The Power of Showing Up is an essential book for every parent who yearns to be more effective and present and, simply, better. It shows us that we don’t have to be perfect, but we can make our kids feel more secure and confident (now and in the future) if we are present and aware as parents. This important book gives us the steps to follow to make this happen.’

-- Dr Harold S. Koplewicz, president, Child Mind Institute

‘Rarely does a book so broad and deep of subject give you the small do-able steps to find your way to success, confidence, and connection with your children.  The Power of Showing Up brings to life the Zulu greeting “Sawubona” (I see you) and the refrain “Ngikhona” (I am here), which are essential for the parent-child connection.’

-- Kim John Payne, author of Simplicity Parenting and The Soul of Discipline

‘Siegel and Bryson provide relatable real world examples and ... specific advice for handling various situations ... Parents looking for solid research delivered in an accessible manner will find Siegel and Bryson getting the job done well yet again.’

Booklist

‘A fitting volume that expands on the authors’ previous work, filled with cartoons and straightforward strategies that will appeal to their fans as well as a wide range of general readers.’ STARRED REVIEW

-- Julia M. Reffner Library Journal

‘Dan Siegel and Tina Bryson have channeled all of their knowledge of child development into perhaps the most difficult yet important aspect of raising a child: showing up. The constant distractions that tempt us away from what is most important in life make The Power of Showing Up a necessary book for anyone raising a child in the digital age.’

-- Jeff Stibel, New York Times bestselling author of Breakpoint

‘Offering strategies in communication, understanding and personal insight, The Power of Showing Up is a clear, compassionate instructional guide to the significant ways a shift in parental behaviour can and will affect a child. Highly recommended for parents, guardians and educators seeking insight for themselves and their children.’

Shelf Awareness

Praise for Aware:

Meditation strengthens our attention, opens our awareness, and helps us cultivate compassion and kind intention, which have been shown to improve our health and our relationships. That’s exactly what Dan Siegel offers us with Aware, a practical guide to a life changing journey into the deep nature of our consciousness, what it means to be human and how to truly thrive.

-- Arianna Huffington, Founder & CEO, Thrive Global; Founder, The Huffington Post

Praise for Parenting from the Inside Out:

‘Parenting from the Inside Out is a must-have for any parent. Mary Hartzell has helped me immeasurably in my quest to be the best possible parent I can be.’

-- Gwyneth Paltrow Goop

Praise for Brainstorm:

‘This book is chock-full of cutting-edge knowledge as well as a deep compassion for teenagers, the adults they will become, and the teenagers in all of us.’

-- Alanis Morisette

Praise for Mindsight:

‘A daring plan of action for a wiser and kinder life.’

-- Diane Ackerman, author of The Zoo-Keeper’s Wife

Praise for No-Drama Discipline:

‘What a relief! Daniel Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson take the difficulty out of discipline, for parents or anyone who has to help kids behave. No-Drama Discipline offers a research-based, commonsense approach that any grown-up will be happy to use, and any kid will benefit from.’

-- Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence

Praise for The Whole-Brain Child:

‘Fears? Fights? Frustrations? Help is here! Daniel Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson turn leading brain science into simple, smart — and effective — solutions to your child’s struggles.’

-- Dr Harvey Karp, bestselling author of The Happiest Baby on the Block and The Happiest Toddler on the Block

Daniel J. Siegel, MD, received his medical degree from Harvard University and completed his postgraduate medical education at UCLA, where he is currently a clinical professor. He is the executive director of the Mindsight Institute, and the author of numerous books, including the bestsellers Mindsight and Brainstorm, as well as No-Drama Discipline and The Whole-Brain Child (co-authored with Tina Payne Bryson). He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and occasionally with his launched adolescents.Tina Payne Bryson, PhD, is a pediatric and adolescent psychotherapist, parenting consultant, and the director of parenting education and development for the Mindsight Institute. A frequent lecturer to parents, educators, and professionals, she lives near Los Angeles with her husband and three children.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.