How to Talk When Kids Won’t Listen: Whining, Fighting, Meltdowns, Defiance, and Other Challenges of Childhood

From tantrums, whining, meltdowns, and defiance to technology, screen time limits, and digital dilemmas to talking to kids about tough topics, How to Talk When Kids Won’t Listen offers concrete strategies for these and many more difficult situations.

Part One introduces readers to the How to Talk “toolbox,” with whimsical cartoons demonstrating the basic communication skills and family communication strategies that will transform readers’ relationships with children in their lives. In Part Two, Joanna and Julie answer specific questions and share relatable stories, offering practical parenting tools for addressing issues such as homework hassles, sibling battles and sibling rivalry, power struggles, alternatives to punishment, and more through collaborative problem-solving and conflict resolution. Readers can turn directly to any topic of interest and find the help they need, with handy “reminder pages.”

Through the combination of lively stories from real parents and teachers, humorous illustrations, and entertaining exercises, How to Talk When Kids Won’t Listen offers real, positive parenting solutions to struggles familiar to every parent, grandparent, teacher, and anyone else who lives or works with children and wants to strengthen family relationships, build kids’ listening skills, and support emotional regulation.