Spaceship Parenting --> beyond the Helicopter

As a twenty-two year veteran homeschool mom turned elementary school counselor, one of the things that I see everyday is a lack of parenting skills and how those impact our children, and our society, in a negative manner.  There are plenty of parents out there doing an amazing job (and kudos to them!!), but there is an increasing number of parents who are winging it, without any guidance or seemingly motivation. The book Spaceship Parenting, by Ricky Arenson, does a great job of filling that void.

Spaceship Parenting is a humorous, values based parenting guide framed as a conversation between Ricky and Nova, an alien visitor who thinks modern parenting is holding humanity back. It provides ten practical, evidence-based rules on leadership, boundaries, emotional intelligence, resilience, and family connection, all with a comedic tone.

The book itself is a quick and fun read. It's just silly enough to keep you engaged without being a dry, non-fiction, self-help book. It's full of terrible dad-jokes, but also some crazy real-life examples of when the rules are and are not applied, and what happens. The rules go from infanthood to the teen years, and there are many rules in this book, such as the stop rule, a simple but effective circuit breaker, which are applicable not only in the home but in the workplace and society at large as well. Peek inside the book to see how humor keeps the reader engaged while also learning practical and applicable parenting tips!

As a school counselor who sees a need for applicable parenting advice in our community, I found the book helpful enough to begin recommending it to some of our families. I also pulled ten passages from within the pages (giving credit appropriately) that align with our ten character principles taught throughout the year. This month we are teaching creativity, and I was able to find a passage in the book that aligned with that principle but also utilized some practical parenting skills. These are posted on our school parent-app so that everyone can get a bite-sized moment of inspiration.  Overall, I highly recommend this book to parents!

About the Author
Dr. Ricky Arenson is an endocrinologist, geriatrician, award-winning author, educator, and speaker based in Melbourne, Australia. Drawing on decades of clinical experience together with psychology, neuroscience, and biology, he translates complex science into practical strategies for happier relationships, better parenting, and more meaningful lives. His books combine evidence, humor, and compassion to explain why people behave the way they do and how understanding those differences can transform families and relationships. His engaging style has made him a sought-after speaker on relationships, parenting, leadership, and the intersection of science and everyday life.