The Art of Talking with Children

Outline

The Art of Talking with Children (2022) shows parents and teachers how everyday conversations can help children think, learn, and grow emotionally. Rebecca Rolland describes different kinds of conversations, from playful and imaginative to reflective and difficult, and explains how to ask better questions and truly listen. The book offers practical examples for children of different ages.

• Everyday conversations with children are a real chance to help them think, learn, and grow emotionally.
• Conversations come in different kinds, from playful and imaginative to reflective and difficult, and each kind has its own value.
• Asking better questions is a skill parents and teachers can practise to draw out a child's thinking.
• Truly listening to a child matters as much as what you say back.
• Practical examples in the book show how to adapt conversations for children of different ages.

Rebecca Rolland is an American speech-language pathologist, educator, and author who has taught at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She works with children and families and writes about language, learning, and child development. The Art of Talking with Children is her first book for parents.