How to Dungeon Master Parenting
A Guidebook for Gamifying the Child Rearing Quest, Leveling Up Your Skills, and Raising Future Adventurers
by Shelly Mazzanoble
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Pub Date Nov 12 2024 | Archive Date Nov 12 2024
University of Iowa Press | University Of Iowa Press
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Description
Gather your party, it’s time to level up your parenting game!
For years, millions of fans have looked to the beloved role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons for fun, friendship, and entertainment. And now parents and parents-to-be can use it to gain inspiration and how-to when it comes to their most challenging and rewarding role yet. Dungeon Masters are not just expert storytellers and arbiters of the rules, they’re compassionate, creative, quick-thinking leaders who embody the same traits that make a great parent.
Where do you find an adventuring party who will have your back? What must-have starting equipment should you own before venturing into babyland? How does your gaming style reflect your parenting style? You don’t have to know how to be a Dungeon Master to master parenting—just think like one. Kids may not come with rulebooks, but now their parents do.
Advance Praise
“A must-read for any Dungeons & Dragons fan ready to take on the most dangerous adventure of all: parenting. Equal parts funny and practical, How to Dungeon Master Parenting is like a core rulebook for raising kids. I wish I had this kind of advice before my wife and I started our own party of adventurers.”—James Breakwell, author, Only Dead on the Inside: A Parent’s Guide to Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse
“In this funny and relatable book, Shelly Mazzanoble proves that parenting is the ultimate adventure—challenging your endurance, strength, and ability to deal with unexpected challenges. I’m just disappointed there aren’t more sleep spells to help out at bedtime. Funny, relatable, and easy to read in small spurts during naptime, this book is the perfect gift for the D&D-loving parent in your life.”—Julie Vick, author, Babies Don’t Make Small Talk (So Why Should I?): The Introvert’s Guide to Surviving Parenthood
“Mazzanoble has created the ultimate manual for RPG-loving parents hoping to maneuver the magic and mayhem of raising little monsters of their own. A critical hit for any grown-up geek aspiring to conquer parenthood!”—Aaron Reynolds, author, Fart Quest
“As a parent and D&D fanatic, everything about this book resonates with me. Shelly brings her humor, warmth, and infectious energy into every page, making this not only a useful parenting guide but a dang fun read! A must-buy for any D&D-inclined parent!”—Michael Witwer, New York Times bestselling author
“The epic-level handbook of parenting is finally here! As a friend, fellow parent, and seasoned Dungeon Master, I can verify that this book is filled with laughter, sage advice, and practical tips that transform raising your kids into an epic quest. A must-read for all parent adventurers out there!”—B. Dave Walters, author, Dungeons & Dragons: A Darkened Wish
“Who knew a book on parenting would make me a better Dungeon Master . . . or wait . . . a book on Dungeon Mastering would make me a better parent? Whichever it is, Shelly’s book is an insightful, pithy guide filled to the brim with stories and gems on how to be the best parent/DM you can be. Your quest is to figure out if it goes on the game shelf or in the nursery. Enjoy!”—Todd Stashwick
“Shelly knows that storytelling and collaboration is the real magic behind D&D, and it comes through on every page. A vibrant new generation of DMs and players will find a lot to love here as they embark on new adventures together.”—Jim Zub, author, Dungeons & Dragons Young Adventurer’s Guides Series
“A lighthearted and practical guide for parents who love tabletop roleplaying games. How to Dungeon Master Parenting is an engaging book that offers relatable advice for parents who enjoy tabletop roleplaying games. Shelly Mazzanoble’s friendly and nonjudgmental tone creates a welcoming atmosphere for new parents, making it a great read for those about to embark on their own parenting adventure. The book provides practical guidance and helpful tips, along with relatable anecdotes and humor to help parents navigate the challenges of parenting with a smile. You will even find the stat blocks and legendary actions for your small human! Shelly invites you to the adventure of parenting by showing you how to use your skills as a player and Dungeon Master to help you multi-class into parenting. This book does a good job of showing how one parenting style will not fit all and how to have a sense of humor as you adapt and learn how to best work with your own children. A must read for all soon-to-be parents!”—Dr. Megan Connell
“Make no mistake about it, parenting is a quest. With barbarian meltdowns, monster naps, and mimic emotions, it can be tough to navigate that quest. Shelly’s book gives parents a new way to approach parenting. Now we are Dungeon Masters and adventurers. Told with a delightful and fun voice, the book contains actionable and specific advice that will help any parent dungeon crawl through the darkest odyssey.”—Shannon Carpenter
Available Editions
EDITION | Other Format |
ISBN | 9781609389819 |
PRICE | $19.95 (USD) |
PAGES | 200 |
Links
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
A very cute and unique take on parenting! I think this was a really approchable way to speak to parents in a new, and less clinical or education-voiced way that will be quite beneficial.
Thank you NetGalley and University of Iowa Press for giving me early access to this book! All opinions are my own.
This book was absolutely delightful. I was constantly laughing, and it was so relatable. Not only that, now I want to play Dungeons and Dragons! I will say, this book is more for those who are about to be parents, or recently became parents. I do wish it had more tips for older children, but I still enjoyed the read! 4⭐️
Every year I read a handful of nonfiction books, and this was a delight to read. I would say this is definitely geared towards expecting parents or parents of young children. I don't play dungeons and dragons, but my husband does. Even though I don't play, I still found this to be a really fun read.
I'm the parent of a toddler so a lot of the early chapters were fun to read but weren't as informative or applicable for me. I think it would have been fun if in the beginning of the book in the index, it would have outlined where to start if you had kids already you could pick where to start. Like more of a choose your own adventure. Even though some of the advice in the beginning wasn't as applicable to me, it was still a fun book.
I read an electronic version of this book, and there were little mini monster manual entries throughout the book. This was so cute, but the formatting was crazy in the eBook and spread the little monster entries out awkwardly. I did like how the book really focused on building community and not advocating that one type of parenting is better than another. There's even a section that outlines the different types of dungeon masters and parenting styles, the section doesn't praise one type of parenting but simply offers advice. I like that there isn't advice that puts down parents but gives solutions for all kinds of parents.
Overall, this was a fun parenting book.
Thanks to NetGalley and University of Iowa Press for the advanced copy, all opinions are my own.
Super fun parenting book. This book makes sure to talk about the needs of the parents, as well as how to incorporate a DM's quick thinking and story telling in parenting. Kids learn best through play - parents can too. I loved this book and I loved reading it. Actually pretty solid advice in it too.
Thank you NetGalley and publishers for allowing me to review this book in exchange for an honest review.
"How to Dungeon Master Parenting" by Shelly Mazzanoble is an honest, comical, and lighthearted guide to the challenges that come with parenting. While I'm not a new parent or even someone with a kid I can appreciate the challenges and scares that come with life changing events. This book represents a creative way to describe how to condition yourself to the new life with a focus centered around D&D. If you are a D&D lover this book gives creative solutions to common hardships that make it very easy to understand. After all like Shelly points to multiple times being a dungeon master is like already being a parent. You are in control of a group of toddlers who want to shape their destiny and story. They have different personalities and are extremely unpredictable. But, being a successful parent is just like being a successful dungeon master. You're there to set boundaries, pickup the pieces, and set guidelines for their story. Shelly points to multiple occasions in D&D that are directly comparable to raising a kid. After reading this book I can surely say that this should be a staple in any D&D players inventory when raising a kid and much like the dungeon masters guide it doesn't give you all the answers, but makes you feel confident that you have the tools to learn how to be a successful parent along your child's journey through life.
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