It's Never Too Soon to Discipline: A Low-Stress Program That Shows Parents How to Teach Good Behavior that will Last a Lifetime - Softcover

Peters, Ruth

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1582380341 ISBN 13: 9781582380346

Publisher: Golden Guides from St. Martin's Press, 1999

Synopsis

As a respected child psychologist and mom with more than twenty years' experience, Dr. Ruth Peters knows how quickly children-even those younger than two-can gain the upper hand in the parent-child relationship. Even in the earliest interactions with their children, parents can inadvertently encourage bad patterns of behavior and set the stage for future problems.

Dr. Peters outlines a behavior management system with clear, consistent, and fair rules that are connected to solid consequences and meaningful rewards. The book features:
* A smiley-face chart to help kids know what is expected of them
* Tips for using the system to handle socially inappropriate behavior (such as aggression, bossiness, and tantrums) and developmental issues (such as sleep problems and toilet training)
* A chapter on attention deficit disorder
* Specific advice for single parents and stepfamilies.

This parent-friendly, practical guide is the first step toward bringing order to every home.

About this title

Review

Discipline has been given a bad rap, according to author and clinical psychologist Dr. Ruth Peters. In the purest sense, discipline means "teaching," using a combination of explanation, reasoning, and action to help children understand acceptable and unacceptable behaviors, explains Peters in It's Never Too Soon to Discipline. Too many parents equate discipline with harsh reprimands, spankings, and criticism. As a result, parents who are striving to create an intimate and child-sensitive household often shy away from disciplining children. We've all seen the upshot--resentful, out-of-control children and frustrated, overwhelmed parents.

The straightforward, "low-stress" program outlined here teaches parents how the fundamentals of discipline can be applied to every stage of development, starting with defiant 1-year-olds. For babies and toddlers, Peters recommends, the most realistic tactics are to ignore the behavior, distract the child, and change the scenery. Six-year-olds respond well to negotiation, bargaining, and clear consequences. Other chapters include "Challenging Kids" (with an excellent discussion on "How Parents Lose Control"), "Outmanipulating the Manipulator," "The Smiley Face System for Ages Three Through Six," and "Single Parents and Stepfamilies." Peters's writing style is anecdote-driven and advice-laden, which can sometimes seem formulaic. Parents who are looking for deeper conversations about guiding children's behavior may also want to read Robert Coles's The Moral Intelligence of Children: How to Raise a Moral Child. --Gail Hudson

From the Publisher

"Too many parents today behave as though they were afraid of their children. Dr. Ruth Peters helps parents find the courage to discipline, to be proactive, and to get control of their families...and to do so early, while their children are small." --Richard and Linda Eyre, authors of Teaching Your Children Values and How to Talk to Your Child About Sex

About this edition

• Publisher: Golden Guides from St. Martin's Press
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 1582380341
• ISBN 13: 9781582380346
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 208