1-2-3 Magic: Effective Discipline for Children 2-12 [Audiobook, CD] [Audio CD]

Thomas W. Phelan PhD (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2006

Addressing the task of disciplining children ages 2 through 12 without arguing, yelling, or spanking, this audio program offers easy-to-follow steps to immediately manage troublesome behavior with reason, patience, and compassion. Parents and teachers learn how to encourage and respect children’s growing independence with 10 strategies for building self-esteem. Also discussed are the three most important qualities for parents or teachers to exhibit in order to foster competence in kids. Tips are included on how to prevent homework arguments, make mealtimes more enjoyable, conduct effective family meetings, and encourage children to start doing their household chores. An award-winning program discusses the importance of establishing and maintaining a home or classroom with fair and consistent discipline, this revised edition includes suggestions on how to avoid over-parenting, build children’s social skills, and apply the program within mental health agencies and classrooms.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Thomas W. Phelan, PhD, is a member of the Illinois and American Psychological Associations and is the author of 1-2-3 Magic for Teachers, All About Attention Deficit Disorder, Medication for ADHD, and Surviving Your Adolescents. He lives in Glen Ellyn, Illinois.

Product Details

• Audio CD: 1 pages
• Publisher: Parentmagic, Inc.; Unabridged edition (April 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1889140236
• ISBN-13: 978-1889140230
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #50,816 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #83 in Books > Books on CD > Nonfiction

More About the Author

Thomas W. Phelan, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist and the author of 1-2-3 Magic: Effective Discipline for Children, All About Attention Deficit Disorder, "I Never Get Anything!", Self-Esteem Revolutions in Children, and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder. He lives in Glen Ellyn, Illinois.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Effective!, August 10, 2006

By 

J. Stilwell (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 1-2-3 Magic: Effective Discipline for Children 2-12 (Audio CD)

We were looking for an effective, gentle and respectful way to discipline our very spirited 5 year old. This is the best resourse we have found to date. The no emotion and little talking approach works very well with our child.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book has changed my family's life!, July 13, 2006

By 

Ann - See all my reviews

This review is from: 1-2-3 Magic: Effective Discipline for Children 2-12 (Audio CD)

I have four children: a 7-year old, two 4-year olds and a 5 month old. Our oldest three we adopted out of foster care just this year. Our son (4-years old) is ADHD and quite alot of work. While this has not completely changed all of his behaviors, it has completely changed the way my husband and I deal with him as well as our daughters. Words cannot describe how pleased I am with this program. It can help anyone! I recommend it to all of my friends!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Works well, bit simplistic in design, December 21, 2006

By 

The Pab 4 (Florida, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: 1-2-3 Magic: Effective Discipline for Children 2-12 (Audio CD)

While I can't dispute the effectiveness of this (see my 3 year-old react when I say "three"!), it's almost too simplistic: the author tries to imply that nearly every behavior can be corrected by doing a 1-2-3 method. While that works well in a lot of situations, he doesn't tell you what to do when the child is in Target, screaming blood-curdling yells, in the middle of the store floor. And you can't pick up a kid in this condition (to drag them to a time-out location, for instance), when they purposely stiffen their bodies so they slip out of your grip. And let me tell you, "1-2-3" does NOT effect a kid in full-on hellion mode, whether a timeout is being threatened or losing a toy, fun trip somewhere, or whatever. So a little help about "what to do when X happens," would've been good (I don't expect him to anticipate the million situations you can be in, but every parent experiences the full-on tantrum where nothing works).

Other than that, it really does work quite a bit. He's right in the idea that you can't talk during the discipline (though I learned to explain what my daughter was doing wrong and what I wanted her to do before we got to 1-2-3). And tag-teaming by both parents is really critical in having this work its full effect. I just wish he'd have given more on "here's what you do in this situation" rather than introducing what some pediatricians call "bribery" (he pays his kids 25 cents per so many minutes to be quiet in the car on road trips--sounds good on tape, til you realize that yep, you're bribing your kids--something I do quite a bit HA, but something the child psych doctors complain about).

Definitely worth the investment, though, for controlling at least half of the problems you might have with discipline. And it's presented in an enjoyable, pleasant format that makes you forget you're listening to a self-help tape (I listened to them all within a few days while running errands). Lastly, you'll feel better learning that every other parent out there has the same problems and challenges in child rearing that you have. Good buy.