Tools for parenting young toddlers and preschoolers (or options to spanking)

I am not going to write an article on discipline techniques as that would take all night.

But I do have some excellent recommendations for some books and tools that really do work provided you are dealing with a child who is developing normally and does not have PDD, Autism, LD issues or some other neurological condition.

The top of my list is Dr William Sear's "Discipline Book" which is excellent

"How to Talk so Kids will Listen and Listen so Kids will Talk" by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlich is another great book

"Kids are worth it" by Barbara Coloroso

"Gentle Discipline" by Hilary Flower

And for the really tough difficult to parent child I strongly recommend

"The Explosive Child" by Ross Greene

And any book by George Lynn

You can contact your local La Leche League organization and find out when the next area conference is. Many times they have speakers and panelist who give excellent presentations on discipline techniques.

I hope others add to this list any books that helped them in their parenting journey.

Parent Comments on "Tools for parenting young toddlers and preschoolers (or options to spanking)"

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Thanks for this great list. New parents/parents of the very young are always on the lookout for resources.

I would add:

Raising your Spirited Child by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka -

and 1-2-3 Magic by Thomas W. Phelan

Other boards have discussion groups based on the Spirited Child books. Maybe one should start here at GS based on that book and others. My kids are past that age, but I'd be happy to drop in from time to time. With twins that were eventually diagnosed with ADHD, ours was a very "spirited" household!

thanks for providing us w/a list.. I started reading "How to behave so your child will to" and I was bored. But i'll try some of the books on your list.

Thanks

Jean Liedloff's book "The Continuum Concept" about attachment parenting was a revelation to me. The ideas in it are not mainstream, but they definitely supported my instinct to parent non-traditionally. It was a fantastic read, too.

I think every parent should own: How to Talk so Kids will Listen and Listen so Kids will Talk" by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlich. It is a remarkable book on how to communicate with your children. My child is only 19 months old, but many of the skills outlined in the book really work in "getting through" to a toddler, which can be very trying at times!

My daughter's preschool teacher lent me her copy of "Positive Discipline for Preschoolers" by Jane Nelson, Ed.D, Cheryl Erwin, MA and Roslyn Duffy. I really can't say enough about this book. I have actually started putting the techniques in practice with my 3 yr old, and I am seeing some amazing transformations in her and me. Now I see how it is that she (the teacher) and her associates seem to have much more patience with my daughter than I seem to exhibit.

I understand there is a revised 3rd edition out, published in 2007. I've been reading the 2nd edition, from 1998.

Tr'y and make me" by Ray Levy is really good too.
As well as "When kids push your buttons" by Bonnie Harris.

One thing that worked on my 3 year old when grocery shopping was a magic marker. I would do the 1,2, 3 magic motified. When I said one I'd mark his hand. He would be instructed prior that if he recieved 3 marks her would get a time out when we got home. Usually after the first mark he would get very upset. Body image would kick i n and her would be so focused on trying to remove the mark her would be good for the rest of the trip.

sandmill, I LOVE the magic marker idea!

A list of books of Help me be good by Joy Berry.. These books lets you read to the children they are short as you read each page there is a question about that page to ask your child how it would make them feel,If this was them awesome answers I get from them.. One is about not sharing and how you would feel.. while reading we talked about it the answers I got was remarkable we are talking about two 4yr olds and a 3yr old.. Then one day the are in the toy room while I was cleaning and I was where they couldn't see me and they were talking about the books.. The one that stands out the most is when they all wanted to play with the same toy, I hear remember the book mom read about taking turns..They decided to work things out and took turns..Awesome set of books

This isn't a book but I know that when you play/teach your child turn it all into a game,singing is an awesome way a child learns and remembers..You could also look at things in the home use them as tools to teach you child what they are.. I found going through the houde and bring the children to see everthing and be able to touch them, soon they lost intrest for the need to want to play with things they were not to touch ;)

Reasons Not To Spank

Plain Talk About Spanking
nospank.net/pt2009.htm

The Sexual Dangers of Spanking Children
www.nospank.net/sexdngrs.htm

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