Customer Reviews

1-2-3 Magic: Effective Discipline for Children 2-12

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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!

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.

There are 4 CDs, each under an hour long.

Even though the description says they are "unabridged", they are not the complete text of the book. They are the audio from the DVDs.

I recommend the CD over the book because after one listening I could describe the whole system to my spouse. His presentation must have been well put together for it to sink in like that.

I believe all parents should use the 1-2-3. The change in my 2-year old son's behavior is astounding. He caught on to the "new" program in 2 days! The frustration in discplining my son that I was experiencing and that drove me to buy this CD in the first place has disappeared!

I bought this book/cd because it was recommended by my daughter's pediatrician. I bought it in the cd format so my husband wouldn't have to read a book, God forbid. It really is geared more for first time parents and I'll tell you why....when I was a single mom with my first child, I had to develop a discipline method that worked yet didn't have me fighting battles all day long. My son loved baseball so starting at age 4 we made up the Strike One, Two, Three You're Out game. Which is the same concept as this book (I should have marketed my idea, huh?) So this material just refreshed my memory of the game and teaches my husband, who IS a first time parent how to get through it. It worked most of the time with my first child. Still does and he's 13! I began my search needing direction on how to begin discipline with my one year old and this program is just over her head, I still go through the motions though so that it becomes habit for me and learned for her.

I would have given anything to have someone give this to us as a gift at the baby shower rather than having to seek it out 7 years later. It is an absolute must have for anyone with children. I only regret I didnt have it before. The many spankings I gave, the countless energy used, and there was something so very simple. I have one that is resisting and the other is not. It is already working and all I can say is thanks to Dr. Phelen.

This book is a short read, full of many (funny) anecdotes. There are many situations that you will identify with (either things you've done yourself, or situations you've seen some other poor parent struggling with at a grocery store). This book gives practical ideas, that you can use on day one, to help give loving, but firm, guidance and parenting to your child. You won't regret this purchase; this really works. It is worth every penny!

Now that I have completed and successfully use the book, I often want to, sympathetically, hand it to other parents I see at the grocery store. Their pain is an oh so familiar one. I want to share our success with all the others who have walked in my shoes....

It took my wife and I a week to listen to the cd's. By the second week, we were able to successfully implement what we learned. Short of what appears to be a miracle, this system truly works and we highly recommend it.

The author is humorous which is a plus. The technique just works ... seriously .. like within days I saw huge improvements in obedience, voluntary behavior. Accordingly, we had more fun together.