Kids today are growing up in scary times. What I Wish You Knew Conversations: Advice to Parents & Other Adults addresses the stress, anxiety and far too real fears of children and teens growing up in the world today. It is about communicating and connecting.

THIS BOOK IS ABOUT HOW TO GET YOUR KIDS TO TALK.

AND HOW TO RESPOND TO THEM WHEN THEY DO.

All parents want to help and protect their children, but most don't know how to initiate serious conversations with them. This unique new book by Sharon Weingarten, MSW, with prologue and input from pediatrician, Mariana Glusman, MD is about the importance of having ongoing dialogue with children and teens. They make it easy to open conversations about some "hard to start' topics by using the words of others. The How to Use this Book and Starters chapters give specific directions.

What I Wish You Knew Conversations: Advice to Parents & Other Adults includes advice by real kids (maybe yours?) interviewed by Weingarten and Glusman. It is meant to be read by, not only parents, but also teachers, school psychologists, social workers, coaches, clergy, neighbors, friends and anyone who works with or observes children, tweens or adolescents.

This glimpse into the diaries of real kids leads to discussion openers, for both adults and children, about topics such as stress, school, family problems, sex and sexuality, gender identification, racial slurs and discrimination, violence, the media, teasing, bullying, cyberbullying, body image, drinking, drugs, healthy relationships, unhealthy relationships, rape, pregnancy, money and privilege and lack of it, hope for the future, and more.

This deceptively simple book is not so simple. Like worrying about our pulse, we often don't pay much attention to real communication with our kids until something is wrong. And then we have to pay a lot of attention. Knowing how to communicate with children and teens about what is on their minds can help prevent future problems.