The Gentle Art of Communicating with Kids - Tapa dura

Based on her proven techniques, Suzette Haden Elgin gives parents, teachers, youth workers, law enforcement personnel, and anyone who needs to talk effectively with children of all ages a system of language behaviour that makes the task of communication easier and more effective. Instructions are clearly laid out for dealing with day-to-day issues. A "problem dictionary" is provided for specific situations, for example if the child refuses to perform a chore. Dr Elgin also tackles the more serious problems, for example talking to teenagers who are pregnant, abuse drugs, have low self-esteem, or are doing poorly in school. This book shows readers how to bridge the communication gap by learning how to create an environment that allows necessary criticism and discipline but is free of verbal abuse, and how to provide a model of communication that today's children must have to become independent adults.

SUZETTE HADEN ELGIN, Ph.D., is the founder of the Ozark Center for Language Studies. Her bestselling Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense books include Genderspeak and You Can't Say That to Me!, both from Wiley. In addition, she is the author of several textbooks and novels. She lives with her family near Huntsville, Arkansas.