Parent Talk: How to Talk to Your Children in Language That Builds Self-Esteem and Encourages Responsibility

The right words for every situation.

Do you find yourself in those maddening situations where you sound like a broken record when talking to your child? Your preschooler won’t decide what she wants to wear, regardless of how many times you insist that she just choose; your struggling third grader says “I can't do math,” and your “Sure you can!” reassurance falls like a dead weight; your daughter smears on black eyeliner just before the bus arrives, and your daily protests are muted by hers.

What’s left to say? Lots.

In Parent Talk, a must-have for every parent with a preschool to high school-age child, Chick Moorman tells you what to say so that you can communicate more effectively—and peacefully—with your child in every circumstance, including:

-The morning mad dash to dress, eat, and leave the house on time
-The nightly struggle to focus on homework
-The endless car ride of exhaustion-induced whining
-The meltdown in the mall

For instance, Moorman’s antidote to the “I can’t” loop is “Act as if you’ve done this before.” With Moorman’s help, you’ll learn the words to use and the words to avoid to end power struggles and the fruitless conversation loops you’re stuck in.

Chick Moorman is an inspirational speaker who has addressed more than 300,000 parents and educators. Director of the Institute for Personal Power, he lives in Merrill, Michigan.