How To Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk - Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish

This is a brilliant book. So easy to read and I agree with everything in it.

I wasn't keen on the activities and assignments dotted throughout, but even if you don't do them it gives you an opportunity to reflect on what you have just read.

I had just read Unconditional Parenting and found it quite difficult to see how I could put some of the concepts into practice. 'How to Talk' sets it out in a much clearer way. I now understand the 'no praise' concept a lot better. It isn't "Don't Praise", its "be careful what language you use to praise".

Comments from other Mumsnetters:

There was lots of praise for this "sensible," "practical," "realistic" book. "Not perhaps the most PC of books - but its no-nonsense approach helped me!" "It's split into easy reference chapters so you can access advice on particular problems - I've had the book in one hand and a screaming toddler in the other!" Plus there's "lots of advice on behaviour and lots of examples. There were some dissenters: "you simply cannot advocate smacking, however lightly, in this day and age." All appreciated the humour though: "Funny and gripping and good to find that there are worse toddlers than your own! "

I loved this book. It really made inspired me to look at how I talk to my children and sometimes talk at them instead of with them. I had been having a few problems with my daughter who has an answer for everything, and this really helped me to see that I had some work to do and really change!

I have reccomended this book to every parent I know as I have such faith in it. Practical, sensible advice which works.

I could apply the advice staight away and really feel like this was a break throughfor me and the kids in the way we interact with each other. I feel like I set boundaries and respect them at the same time. I loved the sense of humour that this book suggests you have with the children - it gets us through the worst moments!