Raising Good Kids

This is the book about child development and discipline that I keep on hand. It helped me as I raised my little ones (now teenagers); it helps me when I watch other peoples' children; and it helps me when I encounter confused or ill-equipped parents. I am very sad that it's gone out of print, and am sorely tempted to snap up any used copy I can find, because this small volume is packed with good sense and practical suggestions -- all based upon research on child development. Another top pick of mine is "How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk" by Faber and Mazlish. In my dreams, parents are sent home from the hospital with copies of these two books.

This book is one of the best I've read so far, for many reasons: it's concise, it provides developmental and age-specific information and offers plenty of ideas and surefire don't dos for each age group, from 18 months up to ten years. The book opens with a general discussion on the theory of discipline, and the author clearly believes discipline is more the art of teaching and training a child, rather than the act of punishment. But, don't be put off if you're a hard-liner on matching punishment w/your discipline techniques because the book has something for everyone. The chapter on Ages & Stages breaks down typical behavioral challenges by age group, and then offers a laundry list of different approaches to modify, eliminate or avoid the undesirable behavior(s). The information presented in this section is a tightly condensed version of the lengthier books also offered by this author ("Your One Year Old", "Your Two Year Old", etc.) I had a very difficult time getting through the book, "Your Two Year Old" as I felt the information was scattered and rather unorganized, but I did recognize much of the same detail presented in Raising Good Kids, without all the anecdotal fluff and commentary. In addition to the vastly insightful approach to discipline, Raising Good Kids also offers info on how children differ, various forms of punishment, sibling rivalry, and discipline in day care and nursery settings. As the mother of a challenging child I've read dozens of books on child rearing and found this to be one of the best. The paperback version is only 124 pages, so it's a breeze to get through. Obviously I can't say enough good things about this book. If you're struggling with your child, or having trouble finding a successful approach to discipline, this book is definitely worth the read.