The Power of Showing Up

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. Whether consoling, disciplining, or arguing with them, or even apologising for the times we haven't shown up for them, this book demonstrates that it's never too late to correct mistakes and mend broken trust. It is a powerful guide to cultivating your child's healthy emotional landscape.

'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.'
- Wendy Mogel, PhD, 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

'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