Book Nook: The Art of Talking with Children

 I recently had a chance to review The Art of Talking with Children: The Simple Keys to Nurturing Kindness, Creativity, and Confidence in Kids (HarperOne; 3/1/22) by Harvard faculty member Rebecca Rolland. The book offers solid, helpful advice for every parent, caregiver, and educator. It's suitable for any family, and can be particularly helpful for adults who feel a disconnect when trying to communicate with kids. It's targeted for those who work with kids from infants through adolescents, so it's got a wide range of application!

There are definitely some things I like about the book. First of all, it specifically addresses bias. Secondly, it touches on both neurotypical and neurodiverse kids. Those are two areas that parents and caregivers often struggle with, for different reasons. The book looks at ways to make truly rich conversational moments with kids, which can really have a positive impact on their relationships with adults.

 

Rebecca Givens Rolland is an oral and written language specialist in the Neurology Department of Children's Hospital Boston and a lecturer at Harvard University. As a nationally certified speech-language pathologist, she has worked clinically with populations ranging from early childhood through high school and provided teacher professional development. As faculty and Module Director at Harvard Medical School, she lectures on topics of communication, mental focus, and creativity. She frequently consults with organizations working to design powerful learning experiences for kids and adults. She has an Ed.D. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, an M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology from the MGH Institute of Health Professions, an M.A. in English from Boston University, and a B.A. in English from Yale. Currently, she lives in Boston, Massachusetts with her husband and two children. https://rebeccarolland.com/