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Book Review of 1-2-3 Magic: Effective Discipline for Children 2-12

1-2-3 Magic: Effective Discipline for Children 2-12
reviewed on + 17 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1


This is a must-read for parents of difficult 3-year-olds. The "counting" technique for stopping unwanted behavior is very simple and logical. What makes this book better than so many others is that the author gives lots of examples of how your child will test you, and provides appropriate responses. He also shows empathy for how aggravating it can be as a parent, and illustrates what will happen if you give your reactive response rather than the quiet, calm response.
After only a couple of days of applying the "counting" technique, my child's behavior is much-improved. Our house is much more peaceful, I'm less aggravated, and my daughter is clearly learning that when I say "Don't do that", I mean it! My relationship with my daughter is improving already, and I'm optimistic it will get even better as we continue to use the counting technique.
In addition to the "counting" method for stopping unwanted behavior, there are many other techniques (such as for encouraging a desired behavior) I will be able to apply as my child gets older. The author provides lots of insight as to what it is reasonable to expect from a child of a certain age, which is invaluable.