How Your Language Shapes Kids, Connection, and Respect | Interview with Amy Hughes, author, Words Like Honey

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Words Like Honey: How Your Language Shapes Kids, Connection, and Respect | Amy Hughes Interview Dian Griesel interviews author Amy Hughes, author of Words Like Honey, about how everyday words and tone affect children’s feelings, behavior, learning, and long-term beliefs. Hughes shares her own communication struggles and a key moment when her daughter misinterpreted a joking comment (“I stole it”) for years, illustrating how kids process language literally and developmentally. They discuss “stinging” phrases like “Don’t be sad,” “Calm down,” “Hurry up,” and “What’s wrong with you?” and offer alternatives that validate emotions, add clarity, and build connection. Hughes explains adapting…