April 01, 2025

Author Lily Howard Scott | With Jordan

39 minutes

Author of the new book The Words that Shape Us (Scholastic), Lily uses innovative language to help parents and children navigate the challenges and triumphs of life.

Her new book is centered on the Power of Words and how the words and phrases we use with children can help grow their emotional literacy, teach them how to self-regulate, practice self-compassion, and build imagination and self-esteem.

They will discuss:

The science behind how words shape a child and offer language suggestions that will foster positive self-talk and self-esteem, including:

“What a brilliant mistake! What learning can you find in it?” This language dissolves shame associated with failure and encourages children to investigate mistakes with curiosity and regulation, not avoidance or a cold-sweat.

“Hello, feeling visitor!” This phrase, inspired by Rumi’s poem “The Guesthouse,” empowers kids to understand that they are separate from their emotional experiences, and underscores the truth that all feelings are impermanent.

“Let’s think ishfully as we jump into this challenge.” Guiding a child to approach assignments with an “ishful” spirit can deter perfectionistic tendencies.

“Turn on your birder mindset. What will you notice?” This language inspires kids to approach new experiences and activities with sustained attention and through the lens of “What funny, interesting, joyful thing will happen here?” Kids elicit what they project, and switching on their ‘birder mindset’ invites them to notice small moments of delight they’d otherwise miss.

Purchase The Words That Shape Us everywhere books are sold.

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By Sean Donohue

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