How To Talk So Kids Will Listen & How To Listen So Kids Will Talk

'How To Talk So Kids Will Listen & How To Listen So Kids Will Talk'

by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish has to be one of the best books I have read. Practical, useful, eye opening and entertaining with great tips on how to communicate with children.

This books helps to bring peace and harmony to the home with tips and ideas on how help children gain confidence, responsibility, initiative and most importantly knowing how to acknowledge their emotions so they can grow to be happy and healthy individuals.

A few tips that can help with children eating vegetables...

Give Information: Explain WHY vegetables are important - children are smarter than we give them credit for and if we explain the facts in a way that is easy to understand they will be less likely to react and refuse than if we say "because I said so"

"Vegetables are important to eat because they help your body to work well so you have energy to play and study at school"

Write A Note: For older kids you can leave a fun post-it note near the fruit bowl or by some healthy snacks saying

"please eat me if you want a snack :) "

However the best way to reduce junk food consumption is not to have it in the house in the first place!

Give Choices And Show Respect: Give children a choice allowing them to choose what vegetables are cooked for dinner...

"do you want green beans or broccoli with your dinner?"

If a child is struggling with a vegetable then acknowledge their feelings and show respect...

"It can be weird trying new things at first...what would be better eating it with your eyes open or closed?"

Describe What You See: When a child is trying to eat vegetables describe what you see...

"I see_(name of child)_trying some vegetables"

Describe What You Feel: After describing what you see, add in some feelings...

"Its a pleasure to see the vegetables being eaten"

Sum It Up: After the two previous descriptions, sum it up in a word so they can also expand their vocabulary...

"That's what I call perseverance!"

Try these tips and notice what changes!