Get Your Teenager Talking: Everything You Need to Spark Meaningful Conversations
Are you and your favorite teenager having too many conversations like this?"How was school?""Fine.""Soccer practice?""Same as always.""Anything interesting happen today?""Nope.""Nice talking with you!"Let's face it. Teenagers have a PhD in one-word answers . . . if we don't ask the right questions.In this book, veteran youth expert Jonathan McKee shares 180 creative discussion starters to help teens open up about issues that matter. You'll also find tips for interpreting their responses and follow-up questions. From light-hearted to more serious, these conversation springboards will encourage even the most reluctant teen to talk about friends, school, values, struggles, and much more."Get Your Teenager Talkingis the perfect tool for connecting with today's teenagers, a generation that often has a difficult time opening up to adults."--Dr. Kevin Leman, author ofHave a New Teenager by Friday"Few people understand the teenage world like Jonathan McKee. This book is one of the most helpful and practical tools I have ever seen to get teenagers talking with their parents about important topics. Authorities tell us that when parents and teens have meaningful, value-centered conversations in the home, teens will stay more engaged with their family, faith, and values. This is a most valuable resource for parents and those who work with kids."--Jim Burns, PhD, author ofTeenology: The Art of Raising Great Teenagers and Confident Parenting"As a parent, this is such a practical tool--it's an arsenal for those of us who need some prompters to get our kids talking in more than grunts and one-word answers. Jonathan McKee serves parents with insightful tips on how to stimulate conversation to provoke meaningful dialogue. Parents, this is the stuff that matters!"--Doug Fields, executive director of HomeWord Youth & Family at Azusa Pacific University; co-founder of downloadyouthministry.com"If your teenager answers you with one-word replies, shrugs, or the occasional eye roll accompanied with a sigh, buy this book! You'll be on your way--quickly--to fun, meaningful conversations."--Vicki Hitzges, international motivational speaker/author"Calling this book practical is an almost-ridiculous understatement: it's a bounty of creative starters for deep conversations between teenagers and parents! There are plenty of helpful, theoretical parenting books on the market; but Jonathan's book isn't merely one to think about, it's a gift to be used."--Mark Oestreicher, partner in The Youth Cartel"Take note, parenting-book authors: this is how to write for today's parents. Rather than giving us another lecture on how important it is to talk with our kids (big-time guilt trip), how about giving us some great ideas (180 or so) for starting conversations with them in a fun and natural way (big-time success!). Well played, Jon McKee!"--Wayne Rice, pastor to generations at College Avenue Baptist Church (San Diego, CA); co-founder of Youth Specialties"We as parents of teens run out of things to say and ask our kids. Fear no more! If you want fun, clever, and witty ways to engage your adolescent, pick up Jonathan McKee'sGet Your Teenager Talkingand let the conversations begin."--Dr. David Olshine, professor and director of Youth Ministry, Family and Culture at Columbia International University (Columbia, SC)