Do you wish you knew how to talk to kids to get them to do what you want? Are supermarket tantrums, endless arguments, sibling squabbles and mealtime nightmares the norm in your house? If so, Alicia Eaton’s book “Words that Work: How to Get Kids to Do Almost Anything” is well worth a read. Here’s what mum of 2, Jill, thought of it.
Words that Work: How to Get Kids to Do Almost Anything
How the Book is Described
There’s nothing more exhausting than chasing after children and constantly repeating yourself, is there? Too many parents — and teachers, for that matter — struggle to get their requests heard, understood and taken seriously. Kids just don’t always do as they’re told.
Now imagine having much more control over:
- Embarrassing supermarket tantrums
- Sibling fights that drive you mad
- Arguments about mobile phones and screen time
- Fussy eating and bedtime chaos
Sounds too good to be true?
In this book, author Alicia Eaton — a leading Harley Street hypnotherapist and a practitioner in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) — explains how easy it can be to get kids to co-operate, simply by changing the vocabulary you use and the structure of your sentences.
She shows how powerful words can be once you understand NLP’s “language of persuasion and influence,” and shares how to slip a little gentle, positive influence into everyday conversations with your children.
What Jill Thought of the Book
I found this book very easy to read, which is always a good start with a “help” book — you don’t want to be trudging through dense text. Instead, “Words that Work” is set out in chapters covering topics like:
- Homework
- Fussy eating
- Sleep and bedtime problems
In other words, the areas that parents most commonly struggle with.
There are examples as well as short exercises to work through as you go, and plenty of common sense throughout. There’s also a 21-day success journal section at the end of the book, designed to help you track your progress as you put the strategies into practice.
What Alicia does, chapter by chapter, is show you clearly what words don’t work — and then what words do work in their place. It makes sense on so many levels, and I really liked her suggestions for how to word things and explain things to children.
Alicia also weaves in stories from her own life and experience, which makes the approaches feel more real and achievable — if she faced the same issue and worked through it, so can I. The other nice thing is that she makes you want your parenting and time with your children to be fun, rather than a constant battle, which is exactly how it should be.
I honestly think “Words that Work” could become one of those go-to parenting books — it’s that good. I’d recommend it to anyone who feels they need a bit of help changing their children’s behaviour.
“Words That Work: How to Get Kids to Do Almost Anything” by Alicia Eaton is available to buy from booksellers and directly from the author’s website.
About the author: Alicia Eaton is a qualified psychotherapist, clinical hypnotherapist and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) practitioner based in London’s Harley Street, helping both adults and children change habits and behaviours for the better. Originally a Montessori teacher who ran her own school, she is also the best-selling author of “Fix Your Life with NLP” (Simon & Schuster) and “Stop Bedwetting in 7 Days,” which is recommended by NHS paediatricians.
Over to you now! Have you read “Words that Work”? What did you think? Tell us in the comments below.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is “Words that Work” about?
It’s a parenting book by Alicia Eaton that shows parents how to use NLP-based language techniques to get children to co-operate more easily — covering everyday flashpoints like tantrums, fussy eating, homework and bedtime.
Who is Alicia Eaton?
Alicia Eaton is a psychotherapist, clinical hypnotherapist and NLP practitioner based in London. She’s a former Montessori teacher and the author of several parenting and behaviour-change books, including “Fix Your Life with NLP” and “Stop Bedwetting in 7 Days.”
Is this book useful for younger children as well as older kids?
Yes — the book covers common challenges across different ages, from fussy eating and bedtime battles in younger children to homework struggles and screen-time arguments with older kids.
Where can I get a copy?
The book is available through booksellers and directly via the author’s website.
Related Articles
If you enjoyed this, you might also like:
- Positive Parenting Tips for Handling Everyday Tantrums
- How to Manage Sibling Rivalry at Home
- Screen Time Rules That Actually Work for Families
- Bedtime Routines That Bring Peace Back to Evenings
Save This for Later
Not ready to put these tips into practice today? Bookmark this article or save it to your favourites so you can come back to it next time things get chaotic at home.
Want More Ideas Like This?
Sign up for our free newsletter for weekly parenting tips, family activity ideas, competitions and offers — straight to your inbox.
