Parent Like It Matters

How to Raise Joyful, Change-Making Girls

By: Janice Johnson Dias PhD, Jacqueline Woodson - introduction

Narrated by: Janice Johnson Dias PhD, Jacqueline Woodson

An accessible blueprint to embolden our daughters to be critical thinkers, fearless doers, and joyful change agents for our future—from the proud mother of teen activist Marley Dias, founder of 1000BLACKGIRLBOOKS.

“A stunning and pathbreaking how-to guide and memoir for every mom, dad, or caregiver who believes in rearing children to be healthy individuals and caring citizens.”—Khalil Gibran Muhammad, author of The Condemnation of Blackness

Renowned sociologist Janice Johnson Dias has devoted her life to nurturing and training girls to become changemakers—whether through her investment in her daughter Marley’s humanitarian projects or through her work with the GrassROOTS Community Foundation “SuperCamp” she co-founded for girls. In these unprecedented times, her work has never been more urgent, as parents find themselves asking: How do we teach girls to change the world?

Dr. Johnson Dias knows that self-realized girls are created through intentional parenting. And so she asks parents to make deliberate choices—from babyhood through adolescence—that will give their girls the resources and foundation to take hold of their own futures and to create sustainable social change.

Unlike other parenting experts, Dr. Johnson Dias doesn’t urge parents to focus solely on their children. Instead, she tasks them with a personal challenge: to find their own joy. Just as Dr. Johnson Dias brings her own jubilant passion to parenting, mentoring, and teaching, she inspires caregivers to do the same.

Using cutting-edge research and Dr. Johnson Dias’s own experiences, the book offers information and strategies for making discussions of racism and sexism a daily practice, identifying heroes and mentors, educating yourselves together, and uncovering your girl’s passions and what issues drive her the most.

Parenting is enormous work; it can be as overwhelming as it is fulfilling. Within the pages of Parent Like It Matters, parents will find the invaluable tools they need to raise resilient, optimistic girls who determine for themselves what their world will look like.


* This audiobook includes a bonus pdf of assignments, appendices and a list of resources from the book.

Critic reviews

“I keep a copy of the book by my bedside as a reference and as a reminder that I am working to build a reciprocal relationship with my own daughter and to ensure she goes into the world as a confident, knowing woman.”—The Washington Post

“In Parent Like It Matters, Dr. Janice Johnson Dias offers an impressive and bold roadmap for those who seek to engage passion and joy as essential elements of developing girls who thrive. Her honest and rigorous offering is a gift to parents, educators, and all adults in search of tools to cultivate the brilliance of our girls.”—Monique W. Morris, Ed.D. author of Pushout and Executive Director of Grantmakers for Girls of Color

“I am beyond proud of my mom and her new book Parent Like It Matters! This story is a combination of faith in the power of children’s voices and a guide for focus-driven parenting, which will inspire a new generation of young change makers.”—Marley Dias, author of Marley Dias Gets It Done

“If you have a Black girl in your life- daughter, niece, neighbor, student- you owe it to her to read this book. Part memoir, part advice column, part workbook, Dr. Janice Johnson Dias has crafted a wholly originally, deeply challenging, and expansively joyful guide to walking beside the girl in your life as she finds voice, courage, purpose, and self.”—Melissa Harris-Perry, co-host of the podcast System Check and the Maya Angelou Presidential Chair at Wake Forest University

“Parent Like It Matters gives me hope for girls to dream themselves into the future as healed, whole, powerful, actualized women—because this book will help to cocreate healed, whole, powerful, actualized parents to support them on their journey.”—EbonyJanice Moore, Hip Hop Womanist Scholar and Founder of Black Girl Mixtape & The Free People Project

“Parent Like It Matters is a stunning and pathbreaking how-to guide and memoir for every mom, dad or caregiver who believes in rearing children to be healthy individuals and caring citizens. Combining her talents as a leading sociologist, the wisdom of her grandmother, and the experience of raising talented change-agents in her community, Dr. Johnson Dias makes clear in this beautifully written book that there may be no more important responsibility.”—Khalil Gibran Muhammad, author of The Condemnation of Blackness

“To matter is a universal human need, and both parent and child benefit from the process and the outcome of raising girls who are critical thinkers and change-makers. . . . This recommended title has insights and practical tips for raising change-making girls.”—Library Journal (starred review)

Inspirational and Relevant Information

Dr. Johnson Dias has presented research, anecdotal and powerful information for all parents. As a mom, I found her book refreshing and a must read for anyone who has children. Thanks for telling your story and offering heartfelt advice and instructions to raise joyful girls.

Wonderful Learning Experience

This book and conversation with Janice Johnson Dias is so important. I decided to listen to the audio version and I’m so thankful I did. Dr. Dias’ voice and teachings are resonating with me and challenging me in so many positive ways. She challenges parents to think about ourselves in order to create joyful change makers. But the work starts with us! This is definitely applicable to parents of boys and girls. A wonderful gift to all caregivers!

A Must Read for Parents

I have not only become a better parent, but this book helps you to become better in all relationships.

Awesome and healthy

The book is authentic and genuine which I can appreciate. The author’s mindset is contagious in an absolute healthy way.

beautiful

It has alot of information that parents need to hear and share. Girls need to be heard