My first book is short and sweet and didn’t make such a splashy entrance 10 years ago. But she sure has staying power. Still in print, selling like hotcakes, and making “best of” lists. I was delighted to recive an email the other day alerting me to the fact that What Not to Say: Tools for Talking with Young Children was one of three books about communication listed on this post entitled, The 15 Best Parenting Books: Resources for Raising Happy, Healthy Kids. It said:
“Parenting Books on Talking to Your Children
The way you talk to your children will affect their relationship with you, themselves, and others. It will also largely affect how well they will listen to you when you speak to them. These books will guide you through the most effective way to speak to and connect with children.”
“3. What Not to Say: Tools for Talking With Young Children
When a child says something out of line, it can be triggering and often cause a knee jerk reaction to say something out of irritation or ramped up authority. These phrases and emotions just aren’t effective when disciplining a child. The words that are said to children hold great weight, therefore the root of how to properly work with a child during a confrontation or misunderstanding is by changing the words and ways that they are said.
In What Not to Say, Sarah MacLaughlin explains how these frustrating situations can be turned around with clarity, consistency, and even humor to create more positive and meaningful experiences with children. Ultimately, the way children are spoken to creates the foundation of how they interact with others for the rest of their lives. Utilizing these strategies will lead to better behaved and happier children.”
BIG THANKS to the folks over at Choosing Therapy. Take a look to see what other books made the list, there’s some really great ones, I’m in excellent company (Laura Markham, PhD, Pamela Druckerman, Adele Faber & Elaine Mazlish, and Michelle Borba, EdD).
Sarah MacLaughlin is author of the award-winning book, What Not to Say: Tools for Talking with Young Children and has been featured in The Huffington Post. She’s writing new book Raising Humans With Heart: Not A How-To Manual. A human development nerd, she brings over 25 years of experience working with children and families to her coaching practice. Sarah is also mom to a tweenager who gives her plenty of opportunities to take her own advice.
