Sticks and Stones: 7 Ways Your Child Can Deal with Teasing, Conflict, and Other Hard Times - Softcover

Cooper, Scott

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0812932404 ISBN 13: 9780812932409

Publisher: Harmony/Rodale, 2000

Synopsis

Sticks and Stones helps parents teach kids how to speak up for themselves more assertively, gently, and effectively. Each chapter, based on the characteristics of a particular bird, uses a wealth of examples and imaginative exercises to give kids the confidence to speak truth to power.

This unique guide, beautifully illustrated with line drawings of each bird and informed by the author's gentle humor, will help kids be effective communicators and includes easy-to-follow exercises and sample scripts. Examples include:
Shut down bullies (The Way of the Blue Jay)
Overcome shyness (The Way of the Black Bird)
Counter peer pressure (The Way of the Hummingbird)
Resolve fights (The Way of the Dove)
Accept blame (The Way of the Crow)
And more

About this title

Review:

Words can hurt. Any child who's been teased can tell you that. It takes an adult, though, to teach children how to defend themselves against those painful taunts. In Sticks and Stones, Scott Cooper, parent and former teacher and coach, wants to offer a "tool kit" of methods and exercises that are supposed to offer children ways to express themselves assertively, respond to blame and teasing, resolve conflicts, and talk confidently in social conversations--all while enhancing their communication skills and self-awareness. These are worthy and ambitious goals that Cooper complicates by mixing all sorts of metaphors into his method. Not only are these exercises supposed to form a tool kit, they are also supposed to correspond to "verbal judo" moves, which in turn are classified into different "ways" that correspond to different birds (Cooper happens to be an avid birdwatcher). The Way of the Blue Jay, for example, offers tools and verbal moves for "assertive self-expression," while the Way of the Crow teaches tricks that help children respond to blame. Get past the idiosyncratic labeling, however, and Cooper's exercises are sensible, practical, and self-explanatory. Want to teach your children how to accept criticism? Teach them how to say, "That's a good idea. I'll try better next time." --Sumi Hahn

From the Back Cover:

HELP YOUR CHILD STAND UP FOR WHAT'S RIGHT WITHOUT GETTING CLOBBERED

"Hey, Shorty, what's your problem?" "Everyone will think you're stupid if you don't come". "You wanna fight me on that?" Every parent knows the truth: Sticks and stones certainly hurt, and so can names and words. Unfortunately, criticism, teasing, ridicule, coercion, and conflict are an inevitable part of every child's life. This unique book will help you give your children the verbal tools to counter the hurtful words others tell them -- and that they tell themselves. Each chapter, based on the characteristics of a particular bird, uses a wealth of examples, sample scripts, and imaginative, easy-to-follow exercises to give kids the confidence to speak up for themselves more assertively, yet gently and effectively. Help your child learn how to:
-- resist peer pressure (the Way of the Blue Jay)
-- accept blame (the Way of the Crow)
-- shut down bullies (the Way of the Hummingbird)
-- resolve conflicts (the Way of the Dove)
-- overcome shyness (the Way of the Blackbird)
-- talk back to self-defeating thoughts (the Way of the Owl)
-- live more mindfully (the Way of the Hawk)

About this edition

• Publisher: Harmony/Rodale
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0812932404
• ISBN 13: 9780812932409
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 208