Raising a Socially Successful Child

(Paperback)

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Drawing on decades of original research, in Raising a Socially Successful Child, Dr Stephen Nowicki reveals how parents and teachers can equip children with the critical non-verbal skills they need to succeed socially in childhood and throughout their adult lives.

Children used to be able to easily pick up social and emotional skills organically, whether through interactions in the classroom, on the playground, or at home. But today, our kids have fewer and fewer opportunities to practice appropriate behaviours, from knowing how far to stand from another child, how long to hold eye contact, or what they are unwittingly conveying through their tone or posture. Parents, teachers, and even children sense that something is wrong, but few of us know what we can do to help children's social abilities.

Fortunately, it's not too late for children to learn these essential skills. Here, Dr Nowicki reveals how parents and educators can identify problem areas - and what to do about them. Through exploring the six non-verbal channels essential to social success, readers will discover how to help kids learn: How to tell the differences between one nonverbal cue and another; How to understand what is being conveyed by the non-verbal cues sent by others, and what they are conveying non-verbally themselves; How to apply what they have learned to any and all relevant social situations.

Raising a Socially Successful Child is full of simple exercises - over a dozen for each of the six nonverbal channels - that parents and teachers can use to help any child get better at using nonverbal communication: what Nowicki calls the "language of relationships". They include:

Rhythm: Being in sync with others' movements and the pace of conversation

Facial expressions: How the eyes, mouth, and eyebrows are used to convey emotion.

Personal space: The area surrounding others that a child should not enter (unless invited)

Physical touch: Any physical contact that takes place intentionally or unintentionally

Vocalics: The pitch, volume, and speed of speech

Body Language: The signals we send with our movements, hand gestures, and posture.

Full of Dr Nowicki's research and simple exercises, this is the perfect toolkit for parents and teachers to help bring the best out of children and equip them with essential tools for life.

Reviews

Much of human social interaction takes place in a 'hidden dimension' of nonverbal communication. Nowicki brings this hidden dimension out into the open, with the specific goal of helping young children who struggle with social relationships. He does this using academic research, detailed portraits of individual children, and concrete advice based on extensive clinical experience. This is a terrifically engaging and helpful book that all parents and educators of young children should read * Michael Tomasello, developmental and comparative psychologist, professor of psychology, Duke University *
Nowicki describes a current crisis - children who cannot form connections-but suggests a path away from danger. It's a program for every adult with a child in their life, a book of hard truths and hope." * Sherry Turkle, MIT Professor, author of Alone Together, Reclaiming Conversation, and The Empathy Diaries *
This highly readable book blends clinical insight with science to help parents understand how nonverbal communication impacts every aspect of their child's welfare-and gives parents clear guidance on how to observe and remedy problems their child might be having in the social arena. The simple and fun exercises Dr. Nowicki proposes reflect his many years as a clinical psychologist and researcher. This book teaches parents what to look for and how to address weaknesses in their child's nonverbal communication skills. Many is the adult who will read this book and wish it had existed for their own parents to read! * Judith A. Hall, University Distinguished Professor, Emerita, Department of Psychology, Northeastern University *
Raising a Socially Successful Child bridges the gap that too often exists between scientific findings and real-life behavior. As a result, the content of this book provides a vital, easy way to understand resources for parents and teachers. Dr. Nowicki really knows children and what they need to be happy and successful during these trying times. I am eager to take what he has written and put it into my own work with children, parents and teachers so they can have access to his incredible insights * Meryl Lipton, MD, PhD, Director Emeritus, Rush Neurobehavioral Center *
Dr. Nowicki's book provides an eye-opening take on why some children have difficulty with relationships and how encouraging them to relate to others in NON-verbal ways, can have a profound effect on their lives . . . an important read for anyone who has a child, works with a child, or loves a child * Susan Darrow, chief executive officer of Music Together *
This is a fantastic book, which reveals so much that we often fail to recognise about how we communicate without using words. My only regret is that this book was not available when my children were growing up, and even more so to inform my teaching strategies subsequently. It is an important contribution to our understanding, written with flare and very easy to read * Jean Golding, OBE, FMedSci, Emeritus Professor of Paediatric & Perinatal Epidemiology, University of Bristol *
The Covid crisis has taught us how much we remain primates. We crave physical closeness and face-to-face nonverbal exchange. In a lively account based on his rich experience as psychotherapist, Stephen Nowicki teaches us how to enhance children's skills to connect with others * Frans de Waal, author of Mamas Last Hug *
Another brilliant book from a true master of facilitating children's social skill development . . . A must read for any parent, grandparent, and teacher who wants to do whatever they can to foster the social success of children they care about * William Stixrud, PhD, clinical neuropsychologist and co-author of The Self-Driven Child and What Do You Say *

Author Bio

Dr Stephen Nowicki is the Charles Howard Candler Professor of Psychology Emeritus at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. He is currently completing a three-year grant in Bristol, England, for the study of the origins of nonverbal abilities and locus of control, and has been collaborating with the Bristol University Child Study Center on a longitudinal study (The Bristol Project) for the past 25 years. A consultant to a variety of businesses, organizations and public and private educational programs, Nowicki maintains an active clinical practice as a Diplomate in Psychology. He has given conferences in France, Italy, and elsewhere.