Rating: 
Summary: Great for All Relationships
Review: I don't have children of my own, but I bought this book because I thought it would be helpful knowledge to have when dealing with my nieces and nephews. I was surprised to find that these skills aren't just for kids. These are basic human relationship skills that will work for anyone. I wish more adults understood and applied this type of healthy interaction. Perhaps this book will lay the groundwork for a more kind and self-assured generation to come. I recommend this book for everyone. It's not just for children.
Rating:
Summary: Great techniques for helping children cope with hurtful teas
Review: I felt "Sticks and Stones" was easy to read and organized in such a way as to give practical and easy to learn tools to help combat malicious teasing that can often destroy a young child's self-esteem. I found the book very helpful because it was well written and had easy to follow techniques and examples of how to use them.
Rating:
Summary: Very Practical Information, True to Life
Review: I have read quite a few books on assertiveness training in order to help my 7 year old deal with teasing from her peers. I must have read about 15 different books, but this book truly stands out. It's not just a bunch of hogwash about how teasing affects self esteem, etc, etc. It's real life, practical techniques easy enough to teach a 7 year old that will give her the tools she needs in dealing with the stuff 7 year olds all have to deal with. Each chapter in the book deals with a different concept to work on. So I'm teaching my daughter a chapter a week so that when she re-enters school in September, she'll be much better prepared.
Rating:
Summary: Great Guide to Parenting
Review: I've already read the book and love it. I have four children (ages 2,6,8,12). The strength of the book lies in its offering of several practical ways to teach children to cope in a sometimes rough and tumble world. I like the exercises that teach a parent how to teach these concepts to their children. The different approaches have creative names which will make it easy for my children to remember. I like the idea of solution time and I have already tried it with my kids with good results. I highly recommend this book to any parent with young children (some of the approaches are relevant to adults as well). The stories, examples and references are also valuable. If you only effectively use 2 or 3 ideas from the book, it is well worth the price.
Rating: 
Summary: I'm Scott's editor. Here's why I love his book.
Review: I've got two kids, ages 7 and l0, and I know that those proverbial sticks and stones really do hurt them. And I know there's not a chance in the world that they'll be able to avoid the name-calling, criticism, teasing, peer pressure,and conflict that are simply a part of life. They've already butted up against the bullies on the school bus, the attack of shyness in front of the class, the taunts about their "stupid clothing," and all the other nonsense kids have to go through. What I love about Scott's book is that he's created these imaginative, easy exercises to prep your kids for how to stand up for themselves without getting clobbered. I've practiced them with my kids (my son loves "The But Twist")and they've really helped. The really nice thing about this book is that doing these exercises with my kids doesn't feel like a chore. I feel like I'm giving them helpful tools to navigate that vast gray area between punching that bully out or swallowing teasing in silence. Scott's book has the kindest heart I've come across in years of publishing parenting books, and his gentleness really comes through in these pages. Please let me know what you think of his book, and which exercises you and your kids liked the best. Yours, Betsy Rapoport
Rating:
Summary: The conflict ABC's
Review: It may not occur to parents that we can teach our children communiation skills specifically, the same way we taught them the ABC's. We assume that our children will pick up on the accepted standards of behavior and develop the necessary communication skills by trial and error. When I came across Scott Cooper's new book, "Sticks and Stones", I was struck by his sensitivity in addressing the need to teach our children specifically, skills that will allow them to handle conflict. He does this beautifully in clear easy to follow exercises that work perfectly at the dinner table. Cooper's use of birds to illustrate the characteristics he wants to teach is pure inspiration. My children love pretending to be a blue jay or black bird or dove first, then they seem willing to settle in for a few minutes of roll playing. These exercises don't feel like homework! Need I say more? I am the parent of a child with an autism spectrum disorder. I know the need in living color to teach my child specifically how to navigate the waters of verbal communication. Now, with Scott Cooper's book, I have a tool that will help meet that need for each of my children. Thanks Scott!
Rating:
Summary: The conflict ABC's
Review: It may not occur to parents that we can teach our children communiation skills specifically, the same way we taught them the ABC's. We assume that our children will pick up on the accepted standards of behavior and develop the necessary communication skills by trial and error. When I came across Scott Cooper's new book, "Sticks and Stones", I was struck by his sensitivity in addressing the need to teach our children specifically, skills that will allow them to handle conflict. He does this beautifully in clear easy to follow exercises that work perfectly at the dinner table. Cooper's use of birds to illustrate the characteristics he wants to teach is pure inspiration. My children love pretending to be a blue jay or black bird or dove first, then they seem willing to settle in for a few minutes of roll playing. These exercises don't feel like homework! Need I say more? I am the parent of a child with an autism spectrum disorder. I know the need in living color to teach my child specifically how to navigate the waters of verbal communication. Now, with Scott Cooper's book, I have a tool that will help meet that need for each of my children. Thanks Scott!
Rating: 
Summary: Another Approach
Review: Let me say first that I have not read this particular book, but have a comment to make regarding destructive teasing. My 11 year old was teased unmercifully last year by a group of kids after he stood up for a younger child that was the "class goat". (This book was not available; I would have used it if it had been). Suffice it to say that visits to the principal, the teachers, etc. yielded sympathy but no protection. We finally got him a couple of books of insults and he practiced them at home. He got to be really good at the funny comeback, the creative snap. It wasn't our favorite solution, but it did work. He's even popular this year because kids think it's funny. The teasing has lessened, though no one at this age is totally immune. At least he didn't slug anybody and he's getting some relief from the incessant comments. So if the "turn the other cheek" approach isn't working, buy a few insult books and see if you can make the best defense a good offense.
Rating:
Summary: Important basics well outlined and creative
Review: Scott Cooper uses basic "tools", in the symbol of birds, to convey an important message. Our children need to have verbal ways of avoiding conflicts. As a parent this is always a concern. Every parent wishes these skills were a "standard issued" gift to their children to avoid the painful process of growing up. Scott gives parents simple exercises with thoughtful and insightful advice to help us direct our children in the right direction. I personally would like to thank Mr. Cooper for his influence and genuine contribution to the preservation of the parent/child relationship. I think his dedications to his father and his niece were a very special touch to his thoughtfullness as a human being that reaped the benefits of a good upbringing.
Rating:
Summary: Cooper Coaches Parents, Teachers, and the Rest of Us
Review: Scott Cooper's book, STICKS AND STONES, is an excellent resource for anyone who wants to improve interpersonal relations at home, in the classroom among children or even in a marriage or between countries. This small, completely accessible and easy-to-read book is organized into chapters that illustrate skills by linking them to the patterns of common birds. for example, for problems dealing with blaming (The Way of the Crow) skills such as the "Mighty Might" can be learned and utilized on the spot. Scripts enlarge the concepts and are written in kid-friendly language. Although this book abounds with good psychological principles, the author comes across as a positive coach with a humorous and compassionate style. The material and strategies are easy to grasp and draw upon solid psychological research, but are not heavy with jargon. Scott Cooper's wisdom will help fill in gaps in your own experience as a child. Every teacher and principal should have a copy near by. I have recommended this book to many adults in my social work practice. I wish it was around when I was raising a family.
| 
