Customer Reviews

How to Talk So Teens Will Listen and Listen So Teens Will CD

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Nineteen years ago I had reached the end of my "motherhood rope". The kids were fighting, whining, manipulating, throwing tantrums... just generally being "kids." But one day it just became way too overwhelming, so I left them home with their dad and escaped to the mall. While in the bookstore I couldn't help but notice an enticing book cover: "How To Talk So Kids Will Listen And Listen So Kids Will Talk." "That'll be the day!" I grunted, but walked across the aisle to page through the book... Inside I noticed what an easy read this book was for busy mothers like myself; cartoons showing me skills such as "Instead of nagging, try saying it with a word!" Interesting! I took the book home and that very skill was the first one I tried ----- and the first of many that worked! (Instead of nagging that we didn't own the electric company because I saw the bathroom light had been left on, I simply said "Lights!" and the kids actually jumped up to shut the light!)

Amazing!! I had to share this wonderful book with my friends at the PTA!! The PTA said "We'll sponsor a workshop if you lead it!" I agreed, and have been leading workshops based on the Faber/Mazlish series successfully for the past nineteen years. The only thing missing was help for the parents of teenagers, but thanks to the authors, that problem is now solved. The positive feedback on this book from parents in my classes has been heartwarming. Unruly, sullen teens were now taking the time to have conversations with their parents, agreeing to accompany families on vacations, cleaning their rooms, and getting haircuts!!! There was no end to the good news I was receiving in my classrooms! Is this book a magic bullet? A miracle cure to the teenage "attitude disease?" Wake up! There are no magic bullets, and anyone who has taken my class will tell you that I don't promise miracles, but I do promise calm. Could you use some "calm" in your home? Thanks to Adele and Elaine's revamping of Dr. Haim Ginott's teachings to fit the teenage years, you can breathe a little easier. Pick up a copy of this book and slowly start incorporating the skills into your home life; you won't be disappointed, I promise.

Isn't it time for you to experience the "calm?"

I had just finished "How to Talk so Your Kids Will Listen..." when someone told me that this book had come out. Putting the lessons of the earlier book to work on the communications with my 8, 10 & 12 year olds was helping a lot. Less yelling, more communicating, actually solving some problems; welcome changes. So when I saw this at the local library I grabbed it.

It starts off with familiar material from the first book, but then goes further with more pertinent examples and sections about friends, and how to talk about sex and drugs.

I'm still the early stages of my journey with this material. But so far it's a much better way.

One more comment. This is unlike so many self-help books that go on and on about the problem before they get to anything practical. This book is 100% practical. From the first chapter there will be challenges and opportunities for you to improve your communication (with your kids or anyone else).

Another wonderful book by Faber and Mazlish. I love their helpful examples, this time from the lives of teen families. Easy to read and best of all, the ideas are immediately applicable. More than just tools and tricks, the work is based upon profound principles that make so much sense. And they make a compelling case for their many suggested alternatives to punishment -- all much more effective than prevailing ideas about so-called "discipline" and "logical consequences."

This book offers excellent advice for communication between parents and teens. The principles taught in this book are useful for every area of
our busy lives. Basically, it reminds us to think before we speak and to speak to others with respect, the way we would prefer to be spoken to. The book also encourages parents to allow their teens to make choices where appropriate and encourage them to learn how to make their own decisions.

These books are so open and honest about issues dealing with children. They teach a way to be a parent in a non abusive directive that makes children feel good about themselves and teaches them to have self control. They actually can think for themselves and become productive self-reliant adults.

Do you remember how supportive and understanding your parents were during your teenage years? Do you recall how you could confide in them, how they trusted your judgment and how appreciative they were of your help?
For most, the answer is simple--"no!"
Flash forward: Would your own teenagers consider you loving and understanding? Do they confide in you? Do they feel trusted and appreciated by you? And...do you feel loved, understood, trusted and appreciated by your teens?
What gets in the way in the way of "yes" answers to these questions? In this book Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish explore the teenage years and help parents and teens get closer to "yes" answers. They show what goes wrong (e.g., blaming, name-calling, lecturing, playing martyr) and help both parents and teens develop an attitude of earned respect and appreciation for one another. Impossible? Think again--open the pages and hear the stories of parents who have just about given up on their teens--whether it's dealing with sassing, homework, chores, hanging with the "wrong crowd" ...sexual promiscuity, binge drinking, "experimenting with pot" or discovering that your daughter has plans to meet a strange man she's been hooking up with on the internet-- watch how the right attitude and skills dramatically improve life at home.
Enjoy this quick read that so effectively helps you achieve what you might have written off as impossible--a loving relationship with your teens.

Very useful strategies for interacting in a positive way with Teens without compromising either their or your own sense of self. I found it to be very readable and down to earth with plenty of examples and case studies to illustrate real life use of the stratagies. It gives permission to be creative and have fun on the way while maintaining respect for all. Warmly recommend.

The book offered lots of examples that involves changing the way you word things when speaking to your teen with the goal that it will have a more positive affect on conversations with your kids. It's worthwhile in the sense that it gives helpful examples of "conversation starters" to hopefully get the teen talking. But it's no guarantee either that you will get the response you're looking for because the person you're trying to talk to or reason with has their own, seperate agenda. So it's a good starting point rather than a "quick fix" which, when looking at the big picture, should work out a lot better.

This book is easy-to-read, not too long or dense, and full of great ideas of how to relate better to your kid. I recommend it to all parents, even if you think you're doing pretty well already (and especially if you're not!).

I'd buy anything by these authors. They're clear, practical and have gotten many years of feedback to fine tune their methods. I've recently found another tool for communicating lessons/advice that teens don't usually want to sit still for-- Words to Live By: A Journal of Wisdom for Someone You Love (Emily and Kate Marshall). It's a fill-in journal for you to write your thoughts on a whole range of life topics (love, friendship, money, health, spirituality...). Write in it, give it to them, let them read it on their own. I bet they start asking you questions. Mine did.