Expressing concerns, conflicts, and feelings are critical to a child's emotional and behavioral development.

This book is divided into four sections describing proven techniques that help children "open up" about their feelings, including: 150 Conversation Cards reproducible writing activities; and "talking rituals" to help make emotional communication a daily habit.

Activities are designed for use by counselors, teachers, or parents.

Also available from Dr. Lawrence E. Shapiro:

55 Favorite Stories & Storytelling Techniques - That Teach The Importance of Good Behavior &

55 Favorite Motivational Techniques That Make It Fun To Be Good

Talk . . . talk . . . talk. For all the talking we do with, to and at our children, it can often be just words among all the words they hear all day long. Do you ever wonder what they're really hearing? What they're thinking and feeling?

To find out, try the ideas in 55 Favorite Communication Techniques That Get Kids Talking & Thinking—a workbook full of activities designed to "promote good behavior and good values in our children." This book is part of a positive discipline system called The Discipline Solution, written by Lawrence E. Shapiro, Ph.D. Recognized internationally, Dr. Shapiro is a child psychologist, parenting expert, author of dozens of books and therapeutic games.

With 55 Favorite Communication Techniques, instead of disciplining bad behavior, we can develop habits of good communication intended to teach good behavior. Instead of giving our kids the third degree, we can give them 55 ideas to help get them talking. Included with the text are Good Talk Cards, Feelings Cards, dice, game pieces, a timer, and reproducible materials such as clipart, scrap booking and writing activities.

As you try out the games, be sure everyone knows the rules: don't criticize and don't interrupt—that will keep the talks meaningful, and avoid arguments and hurt feelings. Here are just a few examples of activities included in the book:

• The Feelings Cards help children learn to express how they feel by using words—or not using them by playing the charade game "Talking without Words."
• Start a family fun night and use the game-board, dice and playing pieces to play the Good Talks Game. How can you tell someone their behavior bothers you without hurting their feelings? Give an example. How would you cheer up someone who is sick?
• For the always-on-the-go family, technique #49 (Car Talk) is for you. Name three good things about a person riding with you right now. If you had car trouble, whom would you want in the car with you?

My seven-year-old adoptive son, his two half-sisters (nine and 15) and I enjoyed playing the board game using both the Good Talk Cards and the Feelings Cards. We even added our own "personal" feature to the game – if we landed on a blank square, we had to share something personal about ourselves. It was a lot of fun. The most challenging part for all of us was not talking when it was someone else's turn to speak.

If you're looking for ways to make meaningful connections with your kids, 55 Favorite Communication Techniques is definitely for you. Once you're in the habit of having "Good Talks" with your children, you may find it less awkward to talk with them about difficult subjects such as sex, drug and alcohol abuse, violence and death.

-- Linda Yoest

Linda Yoest is a graduate of Columbus State Community College with a major in mental health/chemical dependency and minor in law enforcement corrections. She is an adoptive mother, licensed foster parent, freelance writer and published poet.