How to Talk so Little Kids Will Listen: A Survival Guide to Life with Children Ages 2-7 (The How To Talk Series)

The point is that we can’t behave right when we don’t feel right. And kids can’t behave right when they don’t feel right. If we don’t take care of their feelings first, we have little chance of engaging their cooperation. All we’ll have left going for us is our ability to use greater force.

“I’ll get frustrated if I don’t finish this shirt first. I can help you as soon as I finish ironing the sleeves.”

It can make us focus on our weaknesses rather than our strengths.

“Oh, look what you made! Tell me about this.”

“Jacket.”

The best way to help a child “get over it” is to help him go through it.

The problem is . . .

“Ugh, the smell of wintergreen gum is so disgusting to you that the very thought of it makes you lose your appetite. That’s a tough problem. It’s not easy to eat when you have those thoughts in your head. And it’s really hard to control your thoughts. Even grown-ups have lots of trouble doing that.”

Kids might not be developmentally ready to meet our expectations. We

I talked to the teachers, and we all agreed I would start taking Rashi home right after lunch.