How to talk when kids won't listen Whining, fighting, meltdowns, defiance, and other challenges of childhood

When every person in the grocery store is an expert on parenting, we can struggle to know what works and what doesn't. Through their personal experiences and those of their clients, child-educators Faber and King promote identifying emotions and problem solving skills to combat issues facing parents of kids from toddler to teen. Part one is meant to be read beginning to end and helps lay a foundation for the authors' parenting approach. The second part is topical, meant to be consulted as needed, and includes current subjects such as technology, screen time, and extracurriculars. Each chapter ends with a quiz, explanations, and a bulleted reminder list. The authors include lots of discussion prompts to help in situations of "but what if?" and "now what?" This book's downside is its lack of resources for children with disabilities or other cognitive disorders, who are only sporadically mentioned with little to no guidance on how to use the authors' strategies to help them. However, many parents looking for a one-stop approach to parenting will find this book very helpful.

Parents are presented with the tools they "need to deal with the inevitable conflicts between adults and children" in this encouraging guide from educators Faber (How to Talk So Kids Will Listen) and King. Working from a foundation of compassion, the authors walk parents through the best ways to deal with "all those everyday pull-your-hair-out moments," with such basic communication tools as acknowledging feelings with words and telling stories. They also suggest responses to common scenarios: when a child makes a dramatic overstatement, for example, parents should accept their feelings instead of countering with a harsh dose of reality. They advise on kids' relationship to technology (parents can offer a choice about when screen time will be permitted), name-calling (encouraging parents to let children know how a bad word makes them feel), and punishment (problem-solve together). A section dedicated to "Touchy Topics" lays out strategies for helping children cope with divorce and learn about sex. The authors' light tone is enhanced by illustrations and catchy headlines, keeping things from getting too heavy. Full of ideas worth returning to, this guide will leave parents feeling prepared for when things go south. (Aug.)