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    Categories>Communication>Listening to Little Kids: Insights from Joanna Faber and Julie King

    Listening to Little Kids: Insights from Joanna Faber and Julie King

    14 min
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    May 12, 2026
    CommunicationPsychologyRelationships

    Explore parenting insights from Joanna Faber and Julie King on Listening to Little Kids. Learn why acknowledging feelings helps manage toddler tantrums effectively.

    Listening to Little Kids: Insights from Joanna Faber and Julie King

    Best quote from Listening to Little Kids: Insights from Joanna Faber and Julie King

    “

    When children feel heard, they actually feel a sense of relief; if we dismiss them by saying 'it’s not a big deal,' we’re actually teaching them to fight harder to prove that it is a big deal.

    ”
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    Can you create a lesson on the first couple chapters of how to talk so little kids will listen?

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    Knowledge sources
    How to Talk so Little Kids Will Listen | Summary, Quotes, Audio
    link
    https://sobrief.com/books/how-to-talk-so-little-kids-will-listen
    The Sponge: Book Summaries - "How to Talk So Kids Will Listen..." Chapter 2.
    link
    http://soakinguplife.blogspot.com/2014/01/book-summaries-how-to-talk-so-kids-will.html
    How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk Summary
    link
    https://booksthatslay.com/how-to-talk-so-kids-will-listen-and-listen-so-kids-will-talk-summary/
    How to Talk so kids will listen & listen so kids will talk
    link
    https://learnerd.org/book_summary/parenting/how_to_talk_so_kids_will_listen.html

    Frequently Asked Questions

    The core approach focuses on the work of Joanna Faber and Julie King, specifically their guide for children aged two to seven. Instead of trying to fix a problem or shut down noise during a tantrum, the most powerful tool a parent has is to acknowledge how the child feels. This method of active listening helps children feel heard, which acts like a pressure valve to release emotional tension and provide a sense of relief.

    When parents dismiss a child's distress by saying things like 'it's not a big deal' or 'calm down,' it often makes the situation worse. According to the insights from Joanna Faber and Julie King, dismissing a child's feelings teaches them to fight harder to prove that their problem is indeed a big deal. This leads to more intense spiraling rather than the emotional regulation parents are hoping to achieve during a difficult moment.

    Acknowledging a child's feelings is a central theme in 'How to Talk so Little Kids Will Listen.' When a child experiences an intense emotional reaction, such as losing it over a box of cereal, hearing their feelings validated allows them to feel understood. This acknowledgment helps the child feel a sense of relief, making it a more effective strategy for parenting toddlers than using logic or dismissive language in the heat of the moment.

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    Part of a Learning Plan

    Raising 2 year olds
    LEARNING PLAN

    Raising 2 year olds

    4 h 52 m•4 Episodes

    Key Takeaways

    1

    Finding Calm in the Chaos of Little Humans

    0:00
    0:30
    0:53
    1:08
    1:36
    2

    The Magic of Putting a Name to the Storm

    1:56
    2:13
    2:18
    2:43
    2:52
    3:19
    3:34
    3

    Granting Wishes in the World of Fantasy

    3:49
    4:02
    4:21
    4:27
    4:50
    5:01
    5:22
    4

    The Art of Engaging Cooperation Without the Nagging

    5:38
    6:02
    6:12
    6:30
    6:32
    6:51
    7:05
    5

    Saying More by Saying Way Less

    7:27
    7:37
    8:02
    8:14
    8:37
    8:49
    9:07
    6

    When Things Go Wrong and Emotions Run High

    9:21
    9:35
    9:43
    10:06
    10:23
    10:44
    7:05
    7

    Your Toolbox for the Next Meltdown

    11:17
    11:29
    11:46
    11:51
    12:15
    12:31
    12:45
    8

    A Final Breath for the Journey Ahead

    12:58
    13:11
    13:24
    13:37
    13:49
    14:03

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