Hold on to Your Kids cover art

Hold on to Your Kids

Why Parents Must Matter More Than Peers – and How to Raise Confident, Connected Children in a Digital World

Preview
LIMITED TIME OFFER

3 Months Free + £10 Audible voucher

£5.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly.
Get this deal
Offer ends on 5 July 2026 at 11:59 BST.
More purchase options

Hold on to Your Kids

By: Gabor Maté, Gordon Neufeld
Narrated by: Daniel Maté
Get this deal

£5.99/mo after 3 months. Offer ends on 5 July 2026 at 11:59 BST. Cancel monthly.

Buy Now for £12.06

Buy Now for £12.06

Are your children more influenced by their friends than by you?

Are they struggling with peer pressure, screen time, or staying connected in a digital world?

In Hold On To Your Kids, bestselling author and renowned physician Gabor Maté and child development expert Dr Gordon Neufeld reveal why modern parenting feels harder than ever - and what you can do about it.

WINNER OF THE US NATIONAL PARENTING PUBLICATIONS GOLD AWARD
THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER

Today’s children are increasingly looking to their peers, rather than their parents, for direction in their values, identity, and codes of behaviour. But this ‘peer orientation’ can interfere with healthy development, leading to anxiety, disconnection, and behavioural challenges.

In this groundbreaking parenting book, acclaimed physician and bestselling author Gabor Maté joins forces with clinical psychologist and child development expert Dr Gordon Neufeld to explain the cause of this breakdown of parental influence and offer practical advice on how to rebuild a strong, healthy relationship with your child.

Hold On To Your Kids will show you how to:

  • Strengthen your bond and reconnect with your child
  • Help children resist peer pressure and social media influence
  • Build trust, authority and security at home
  • Support your child’s emotional wellbeing and mental health
  • Raise confident, resilient children


This updated edition also includes a new chapter on post-pandemic parenting and youth mental health.

Blending child psychology and real-world advice, this book will empower parents to help their children thrive in the digital era and become a true source of contact, security, and warmth for their kids.

‘A visionary book…one to be taken very seriously’ Peter A. Levine Ph.D., bestselling author of Guiding Your Child Through Trauma

‘Bold, wise and deeply moral. [Maté] is a healer to be cherished’ Naomi Klein, bestselling The Shock Doctrine

‘Maté’s book will make you examine your behaviour in a new light’ Guardian

‘Brings us genuinely new ideas and fresh perspectives on parenting’ Dr Mary Pipher, psychologist and bestselling author of Reviving Ophelia

Full of easy tips for avoiding calamity’ The Times

Has the power to change, if not save, the lives of our children.” US National Post
© Gabor Maté 2004 (P) Penguin Audio 2021

Parenting & Families Personal Development Personal Success Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Relationships Inspiring
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1

Critic reviews

Gabor Maté’s connections—between the intensely personal and the global, the spiritual and the medical, the psychological and the political—are bold, wise and deeply moral. He is a healer to be cherished
A visionary book that goes beyond the usual explanations to illuminate a crisis of unrecognized proportions. The authors show us how we are losing contact with our children and how this loss undermines their development and threatens the very fabric of society. Most importantly they offer, through concrete examples and clear suggestions, practical help for parents to fulfil their instinctual roles. A brilliant and well written book – one to be taken very seriously
Hold on to Your Kids brings us genuinely new ideas and fresh perspectives on parenting. The authors integrate psychology, anthropology, neurology and their own personal and professional experiences…. a worthy book with practical implications
Maté’s book will make you examine your behaviour in a new light
Hold On to Your Kids is full of easy tips for avoiding calamity
All stars
Most relevant
This explains so much about our increasingly broken society. It's a must listen, whether you have kids or not.

Excellent.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

This book is one of the must for every parent. Wish every parent know what is going on with our children

Must listen book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Loved it. Very helpful and and aims current issues I am starting to have with my growing son.

Superb :)

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

This is one of those books that really is life-changing and urgent. I highly suggest every adult with children in their care read this regularly. It spoke to me on so many levels. Thank you Drs Maté & Neufield. You have served humanity through your insights.

This book articulated my parental gut instincts

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Thanks again for a marvellous work and for helping so many people by doing a wonderful work!
Always great to read and to learn.

Excellent

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

See more reviews