Here is what people have said about The Skill-ionaire in Every Child:
“I wish this incitingly wise book had been available to me earlier in my life. The skills that are honed so well in The SKiLL-ionaire are essential for creating a social fitness program for children of all ages. It is an essential reading for this time in the life of our nation.”
PHILIP G. ZIMBARDO, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus, Stanford University
Author of The Shy Child, The Lucifer Effect and The Time Paradox“Marie-Nathalie Beaudoin has written an invaluable primer on an overlooked topic: how to build children's awareness of their everyday competent actions. Integrating the latest neurobiological and developmental research with her own sharp observations and clinical savvy, she provides a practical, easy-to-follow method for supporting children's skills. This book is a must read for parents and educators of all stripes.”
KAETHE WEINGARTEN, Ph.D.
Associate Clinical Professor of Psychology, Harvard Medical School Director
WitnessingProject(www.witnessingproject.org)“In this innovative and useful book, Marie-Nathalie Beaudoin teaches readers how to engage young people in reflecting on and appreciating the skills and knowledge they show in their daily lives. Using clear and interesting real-life examples, this book provides a detailed map of a specific conversational method that is applicable for parents, educators and counselors. Drawing on the latest neuroscience of brain development, it describes how to help children and adolescents manifest confidence, optimism, and compassion. We don't know of any other book that is so positive and so immediately usable for adults who want to help young people become the best citizens of our world that they can be. This is a contribution of the highest order.”
GENE COMBS and JILL FREEDMAN
Authors of Narrative Therapy: The social construction of preferred realities.“Marie-Nathalie has provided us in a very tidy and reader-friendly form, a genre of conversation that has young people produce their own knowledges rather than consume ours. This comes not only from her professional practice but her own practice as a parent of her two children. Perhaps merging both sources has led this book to being so remarkably practical. Although it requires painstaking care at first to inquire what a young person might know rather than transferring what you know, the rewards are so obvious and immediate that most will find any diligence required a delightful apprenticeship. Marie-Natalie has linked this practice to contemporary findings in neuroscience which is a like a bonus track on a CD. ”
DAVID EPSTON
Co-Author of Narrative Means to Therapeutic Ends-
“Beaudoin rejects the prevailing, century old fixation on problems, and instead offers a courageous and fresh look at how to cultivate a rich sense of optimism and personal agency in young peopleís lives. She urges readers to consider the notion that we can literally, train our own and our childrenís brain to respond differently to life. Drawing heavily from her strong narrative therapy background and the remarkable new neuroscience of happiness, she offers us a compelling and inspiring approach for parents, educators and counselors alike. This extraordinary book is a treasure chest, brimming with innovative ideas and artful examples of how to ìlight up the natural geniusî and discover the SkiLL-ionaire and in every child.”
JIM DUVALL, M.Ed.,R.S.W.
Director of Training, Hincks-Dellcrest Centre / Gail Appel Institute
Editor, Journal of Systemic Therapies
Co-author of Innovations in Narrative Therapy: Connecting Practice, Training and Research “I am thrilled to have discovered a book that gives me the tools to not only better address students’ immediate issues, but also support them in learning to calm themselves, organize their thoughts, and develop self-worth and confidence. I have seen the real effects of this method, and parents have been amazed at how students are maturing and solving their problems in a positive, caring manner.”
LORI KING
Principal, Washington Open Elementary School
Santa Clara, CA“As parents, educators and therapists, we are always wondering how to interact with the young people in our lives, in a way that helps them achieve the hopes and dreams we have for them. Beaudoin has delivered a clear, straightforward, extraordinary manual on how to invite our children ”in realizing their potential. When you’ll put these ideas in practice, you will surely also, find a “skill-ionaire” within yourself.
JEFFREY L. ZIMMERMAN, Ph.D.
Co-Author of If Problems Talked: Narrative Therapy in Action“The Skillionaire provides parents and educators with a model for how to turn problems and conflicts into learning opportunities. We know that punishment doesn't work, but it's rare to find a resource with detailed examples of an alternative way to respond. I highly recommend this useful, practical book..”
DALE JONES
Principal of Discovery Charter School
San Jose, California“This hugely accessible book offers a way of responding to young peopleís concerns that can be utilized in the schoolroom, therapy room or backyard at home! The approach that is so clearly and energetically described within these pages, is a reflection of the unswerving respect that Marie-Nathalie has for what is possible in every child. There is an excitement of possibility that jumps from each page as our thinking is drawn to focus on the skilled accounts of young people, as opposed to problem accounts. Skills Boosting Conversations are based in sound principles of narrative therapeutic practice, and the beauty of it, is that the approach can be utilized by anyone who is involved with children.”
MAGGIE CAREY
Narrative Therapist and Trainer
Co-Director Narrative Practices, Adelaide, Australia“This is one of the most exciting new approaches to parenting and adult-child communication I've ever seen. If you interact with children on any regular basis, read this book.”
CAROLINE PINCUS
Book publisher and parent“There is a crack in everything and that's how the light gets in. I experience the Skill-ionaire to be an elegant, creative, and helpful gesture to this light. The form of the book effectively supports the content with its constant interplay between theory and practice, small tasks, numerous examples, summaries, and question-answer items. The whole book provides a friendly invitation, and lots of tools, on how to get from drama puddles into living life in its greatness. As a seasoned practitioner, Marie-Nathalie Beaudoin has what is needed to tap us on the shoulder.”
TAPIO MALINEN
Hamari, Finland-
“I was totally fascinated by Marie Nathalie Beaudoinís book, 'The Skill-ionnaire in every child!' I would never have imagined that the intersection between neuroscience and narrative therapy would lead to such engaging, insightful and transformative ways of interacting with children to enhance the development of their socio-emotional intelligence! The principles and practices proposed by Ms. Beaudoin are meticulously explained and illustrated through real life examples that are complemented by questions and answers, all of which underscore the power and promise of her approach. Although focussed on children, one can readily imagine this model being successfully applied to other human interactions whether in families, organizations or other social settings. It seems only natural that expressing genuine curiosity about the otherís experiences, intentions, knowledge, skills, values and purposes through sensitive, open ended questions would enhance their image of themselves, build trust and reinforce relationships! I am extremely grateful to the author for having shared through this visionary book the wisdom she has gained through numerous years of practice, research and reflection!!!”
FRANCINE TITLEY