The Top 50 Questions Kids Ask (Pre-K through 2nd Grade): The Best Answers to the Toughest, Smartest, and Most Awkward Questions Kids Always Ask [Paperback]

Susan Bartell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2010

Praise for the Top 50 Questions Kids Ask

"Dr. Susan is highly gifted at helping parents and kids connect from the heart. This book honors our innate wisdom, supports us in nurturing our kids' emotional growth and empowers us to be the parents we were meant to be."
-Renee Peterson Trudeau, life balance expert/coach and author of "The Mother's Guide to Self-Renewal: How to Reclaim, Rejuvenate and Re-Balance Your Life"

"The Top 50 Questions Kids Ask is an insightful guide on the issues and concerns every parent and child faces. It's a must- read guide that both moms and dads should keep at their bedside."
-Allison O'Connor, Founder and Editor, SingleMindedWomen.com

"Finally, a book that answers all those questions we parents go in a cold sweat about! Dr. Susan tackles the tough ones such as money, shyness, siblings and religion. Plus, we get the psychology behind it all to better understand our kids. You'll find yourself using this book every day."
-Pam Atherton, journalist and host of "A Closer Look" radio talk show

"Dr. Susan Bartell is the go-to person for all questions kids ask. No one is better qualified or more in touch with this age group to lend her expertise to a book that aids parents in improving communication with their ever-curious children."
-Renee Raab Whitcombe, author of "Look Who's Going to be a Big Sister" and "Look Who's Going to be a Big Brother"

Are we rich? Why do I have to go to school? Where do babies come from?

If you're the parent of a four- to eight-year-old, there's no doubt you've heard them already-and there are countless more to come. Questions! They come in all types: curious, nagging, touching, annoying, and downright weird. What they all have in common is that parents are often at a total loss for how to answer them.

Inside you'll find the concrete responses that will make sense to kids, stop the nagging, reduce your frustration, and begin healthy new conversations that will enrich your child's view of the world.

You'll learn to talk confidently with your child about the toughest of topics, with advice and support from expert family psychologist Dr. Susan Bartell. Responding to your child's questions can be a remarkable parenting opportunity-if you just know the right words to say.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dr. Susan Bartell is a nationally renowned psychologist and author who has been helping children, teens, and families lead healthier, happier lives for nearly twenty years. Dr. Susan has appeared on Good Morning America, 20/20, and The Today Show, and is a frequent contributor to the New York Times, Parenting magazine, Family Circle, WebMD, Women's Day, Nick Jr., and Seventeen.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Moms and dads can't wait for their kids to start talking-it's one of the greatest thrills of our parenting lives. But I'm sure you'll agree that when the never-ending questions start coming, we sometimes wish our precious children had never learned the meaning of the words "why" and "what"-not to mention all the other words in between that seem to end in a question mark, strung together to form a question that doesn't even make sense all the time.

But guess what? While I absolutely acknowledge that the questions of preschool- and early-elementary-age children can be tedious, annoying, and relentless, during this stage of development your child's questions begin taking on a deeper value that can help you to understand his or her dreams, wishes, fears, and hopes-if only you can find the key to unlock their meaning.

By paying close attention to your child's questions, you can often learn how to scratch below the surface. Then, once you really have a great understanding of your child's questions, you can learn to respond to them in a way that will encourage your child to share even more with you, rather than end the conversation. In this way you are planting the seeds for a lifetime of excellent communication between you and your child.

Parents often tell me that they are frustrated because they don't know how to communicate fully with their children; they wish their kids would talk to them more. By learning how to respond to your child's questions differently, you will open up these lines of communication beginning now, while your child is still very young. You will then be able to build on this growing bond as your child gets older. By the time your child is a teenager, you will have nurtured a wonderful, close relationship-it doesn't get any better than that!

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks (March 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402219156
• ISBN-13: 978-1402219153
• Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 0.9 x 7.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #873,027 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dr. Susan Bartell is a nationally recognized psychologist, consultant and multi-award winning author in suburban New York. She is also a much sought after speaker lecturing widely on a broad range of topics.

Her mission is to help adults, teens and kids recognize they can have greater control over their emotional and physical health, and can improve the quality of their lives, by teaching them a range of skills to successfully meet even their most challenging moments head-on. Her goal is to provide a perspective that allows people to balance life's demands through coping strategies so they can truly value the positive aspects of their lives.

Dr. Bartell is a recognized media expert who can frequently be found offering advice on national networks including CNN, CBS, ABC, and on shows such as Good Morning America, The Today Show, 20/20 and The Early Show, as well as on national and local radio stations across the country. She is also frequently quoted in print media including USA Today, Newsday, The Los Angeles Times, FIRST for Women, Woman's Day, MSNBC.com, WebMD and CNN.com. She is also an expert advisor, with masthead credit, to KIWI magazine.

Dr. Bartell is the author of seven books, The Top 50 Questions Kids Ask series; Dr. Susan's Fit and Fun Family Action Plan: 301 Things You Can Do Today; Dr. Susan's Kids-Only Weight Loss Guide; Dr. Susan's Girls-Only Weight Loss Guide: The EASY, FUN way to Look and Feel Good! ; Stepliving for Teens; and Mommy or Daddy: Whose Side am I On?.

She is also the founder and director of two websites, www.girlsonlyweightloss.com and www.havinganotherbaby.com, and pens a nationally syndicated column, A Teachable Moment, which reaches well over half a million readers in the U.S. and Canada.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Advice you can REALLY use March 24, 2010

By S. Smith

Format:Paperback

I'm the editor of KIWI magazine, so I hear all the time from parents who want sensible advice that works--not mumbo jumbo that you can't use in everyday life. That's why I love Dr. Bartell's new books. She gives really insightful explanations for why kids ask the things they ask--they're enlightening without being esoteric. Then, best of all, she gives you things you can actually turn around and say to your kids. I think parents are going to love having this book around--it's great for studying up before your kids drops a doozy on you, but equally good to keep handy for the times you need to say, "Great question. Let's talk about that at dinner." Quick: Grab your copy of Dr. Bartell's book, look up the question, and you'll be all set for the talk.

5.0 out of 5 stars Real lessons I use EVERYday March 30, 2010

By olearykate

Format:Paperback

As the mom of two young boys, I use the lessons from these books everyday. Honestly - everyday. From the questions relating to snacks, bedtime, fears, siblings and money, Dr. Bartell helped me understand the underlying meaning of my son's question and taught me a practical, thoughtful way to answer it. When I came to the spiritual questions like, "Can Grandma/Grandpa (who died) see us?" I learned my greatest parenting lesson. Sometimes children long for a concrete answer to a question that does not have one, and it's best to respond to these types of questions by forgoing an answer relating to my belief and asking my son the same question. While always striving to give open, age-appropriate answers to the questions from the little ones in my life, I learned from Dr. Bartell that by letting my son formulate his own answers, he will be comforted and not scared. Her advice on this and the other topics has worked for my family! Dr. Bartell's responses are practical, warm and often witty. Her astounding expertise really shines through in her writing. Thank you, Dr. Bartell, for enriching my life!

5.0 out of 5 stars A lifesaver for the questions kids ask. Informative and fun! March 22, 2010

By Danielle Sullivan

Format:Paperback

Dr. Bartell's new book is not only informative and asks the tough questions, like "Does it hurt when someone dies?" and "Where is God?", but it explains the meaning behind the advice and also offers the best response for each situation. These two approaches are invaluable. Parenting is not easy and every parent knows that. Sometimes it's the emotional issues and questions that can leave a parent stumped for answers most. This book is a definite keeper as your child grows older. As a parenting editor for the past 12 years, it's the best book I've read on answering the tough issues. Yet it's also, fun tackling questions like "Can I marry you when I'm grown up?" I found myself laughing out loud as I related to the questions asked.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best parenting resources I've read! May 12, 2010

By M. Talalay

Format:Paperback

KIWI Magazine Review:

Not only is it comforting that other parents encounter the same questions, challenges, and conundrums, but Dr. Susan Bartell provides more than just sound advice in this must-have guide for parents. She helps us understand why a child asks a certain question and viable options for responding. Considering my daughter is currently fixated on how I drive (too fast, too slow, getting a ticket), I was amazed to see this question pop up in this book. I found this book immediately helpful in so many ways; mostly, it encouraged me to anticipate some questions and plan my answers, rather than winging it. And, it's nice to be able to see what questions are just around the corner in the version that deals with 3rd through 5th grade!

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Top 50 Questions Kids Ask April 1, 2010

By Louseey

Format:Paperback

Easy-to-implement parenting advice in bite-sized, easy-to-read pieces. Dr. Bartell states the question, uncovers the meaning and suggests how to respond.