So which bit of 'How To Talk' do you find the most useful?

[notnowbernard]

Have just started reading it and am really liking the gist of it so far. I think the stuff on feelings and naming them etc (getting child to talk through empathic listening etc) is great and can be applied to loads of stuff, not just kids

Now I just need to get to the bit that tells me how to get my DC to do what they are told

Seriously, though, do people who have read it think it's made a difference to the way they parent?

I found this book full of common sense suggestions really, but reading the book helped me implement the techniques, and it changed my relationship with my DS and also helped me huge amounts at work as a teacher.

I found the techniques really really useful and effective with 'difficult' children and with one of my pupils who has Down's.

The wishes as fantasy thing I would never have thought of myself, but it really does work.

Also, acknowledging children's feelings. If they say "I'm tired" I just say now "you feel tired" or "yes, you're tired", instead of a response like "you're not tired" or something else that denies them the feeling they have just expressed.

I love this book and lend it to everyone I can.

DS has also read it a few times, he likes the cartoons . He uses the techniques too, probably because he has learnt them from me.

He says "I can see you're very cross now mummy" and stuff. It difuses stressful situations.

Oohhh, I think it might be time for me to read this book.
I started reading Toddler Taming, but found it really patronising and couldn't get into it at all.
Then I read The Incredible Years, which was fab but I am loving what I have read so far on this thread so will read How To Talk and the Siblings Without Rivalry

I love the idea of your DS using the same techniques on you, overmydeadbody