Raising a Socially Successful Child: Teaching Kids the Nonverbal Language They Need to Communicate, Connect, and Thrive

"A brilliant...and perfectly timed" (William Stixrud, co-author of The Self-Driven Child) book showing how parents and educators can help children master the nonverbal language of social connection and success

We all want our kids learn the social skills they need to thrive. Yet many of today's kids are struggling to connect, often with no apparent reason why.

In most cases, the explanation is simple: a child hasn't fully mastered the nonverbal language of everyday social interaction, like how to take turns in a conversation, how to respect boundaries of personal space, or how to tell whether a friend is feeling happy or sad.

And yet, children aren't taught nonverbal skills in the same formalized way they are taught reading and writing. Instead, they are expected to absorb these skills at school, home, and on the playground. But between the steep rise in screen time and the social learning lost to Covid quarantines and school closures, today's kids have had fewer opportunities to learn the rules of nonverbal behavior.

Fortunately, parents and teachers can help kids shore up these essential skills. In Raising a Socially Successful Child, Dr. Stephen Nowicki reveals how to identify the nonverbal areas where a child might be struggling, and equips readers with a set of simple exercises to help any child learn how to:

• Follow the rhythm of conversations
• Express and read emotions in facial expressions and body language
• Understand the difference between appropriate and inappropriate touch
• Sense a person's mood based on their tone of voice
• And more

Drawing on decades of research, as well as dozens of stories from across the country, Raising a Socially Successful Child is the practical guide to helping children master the nonverbal skills they need to succeed in childhood, and their adult lives.


About the Author
Dr. Stephen Nowicki is the Charles Howard Candler Professor of Psychology Emeritus at Emory University, where he has served as Director of Clinical Training, Head of the Psychological Center, and Head of the Counseling Center. Dr. Nowicki maintains an active clinical practice as a Diplomate in Psychology.