Voice Lessons for Parents - by Wendy Mogel (Paperback)

About the Book

A guide to the art of talking with children that demonstrates how a change of voice can transform conversations and ease parent-child relationships, sharing strategies for communicating with kids at different age levels.

Book Synopsis

New York Times bestselling author and host of the podcast Nurture vs Nurture Dr. Wendy Mogel "teaches parents the dialect needed to converse with their daughters and sons at every stage of life" (Chicago Tribune). Dr. Wendy Mogel, "one of the most astute psychologists on the planet (Angela Duckworth, New York Times bestselling author of Grit) observed a pattern in her practice: when parents speak to their children their pitch tends to rise, and they come across as pleading, indignant, wounded, outraged. Their tone and body language signal, I can't handle it when you act like a child. In response, Dr. Mogel developed a remarkably effective series of "voice lessons," for parents who were struggling to communicate. The results were immediate: a shift in vocal style led to calmer kids, who listened more attentively and responded with warmth, respect, and sincerity. In Voice Lessons for Parents, Mogel elaborates on her novel clinical approach, revealing how each age and stage of a child's life brings new opportunities to connect . Drawing from a range of sources including neuroscience, fairy tales, and anthropology, Mogel offers specific guidance for talking to children across the expanse of childhood and adolescence. She also explains the best ways to talk about your child to partners, exes, and grandparents, as well as to teachers, coaches, and caretakers. And she addresses the distraction of digital devices--how they impact our interactions with our families, and what we can do about it.

Review Quotes

"In this brilliant, compassionate book, Wendy Mogel has something to offer every parent. By practicing what Mogel recommends, parents will find the dance they do with their children as they wend their way to adulthood less uncertain, less painful, and more joyful that it is now. Read it and teach yourself how to do it." -Barry Schwartz, author of Practical Wisdom and Why We Work

About the Author

Wendy Mogel, PhD, is a practicing clinical psychologist, international public speaker, and the author of Voice Lessons for Parents, the New York Times bestseller The Blessing of a Skinned Knee, and The Blessing of a B Minus. She is also the host of Nurture vs Nurture, a new podcast from Armchair Expert, and lives in Los Angeles. Please visit her website at WendyMogel.com.