Customer Reviews

How to Con Your Kid

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

By design, two-year olds often don't want to do what you want them to do, leading to the well documented Parent-Toddler Power Struggle. Of course, I know these can often be avoided by turning the task into a game, adventure or song. But really, when I'm rushing to get out the door, I've already cleaned up 3 spills, my oldest can't find his shoes, and my two-year old refuses to allow me to brush her hair, my creative mind shuts down. I was having just such a morning and literally ran to find this book, looked up brushing your toddler's hair and one minute later my daughter was happily letting me brush her hair while I sang a song about getting the knotty witch out. The best part was I left the house that morning feeling not like a harried mother bullying her kids into doing what she needed them to do, but a clever and creative mother with two happy children. I am giving this book to all my friends who have toddlers.

How to Con Your Kid is another great offering from the folks over at Quirk Books. With fun, upbeat prose, the authors suggest ways to con your kids into keeping their clothes on (are you dealing with an inveterate nudist?), meet strangers without hiding, let you leave them in the care of others, survive an airplane trip, and play alone, among others. Heck, my husband could use many of the airplane trip tips on me!

Each chapter consists of the groundwork for the con, the basic cons, the short cons (one-liners), games to play, songs to sing, and what to do if your child is on to you. This isn't a dry child-rearing tome, so don't pick it up looking for an academic treatment of the subject. With that said, the entire book follows a terrific child-rearing philosophy, without stating it directly. All the cons are stated in a positive light. The short cons are questions with two choices, both of them positive for the parent (Do you want to put back the stuffed animal or should I? I am going to pick up your socks, so are you picking up your shirts or pants? Do you want a bubble bath or swimming bath tonight?) We've all heard that the average child hears the word "no" more than 400 times a day (per a UCLA study), so this book is a refreshing example of how to parent with positive statements. All the suggestions incorporate a positive attitude from the parent (talking about the doctor as a personal friend, practicing staging a hair salon at home, etc.), which should rub off on your kid.

Many suggestions also recommend avoiding forbidden fruit; a parent can orchestrate moderation to keep their kid on an even keel. The chapter on chores breaks out chores by age level and recommends establishing a routine and giving your kids responsibility. The advice on dealing with crying is pure genius--and you'll have to pick the book up to find out why.

The finale is a half dozen charts to track and reward good behavior with the included stickers. You get big bang for your buck with this small format hardcover.

I heard of this book in a magazine (like Woman's Day or Family Circle) and the advertisement made it sound like this deep wonderful book of solutions to help you get things done with your kids. So I rushed to my library to get it ~~ and imagine my disappointment when I saw how tiny it was.

I took it home as I thought perhaps it would be helpful. I skimmed through it and to my disappointment it wasn't anything new or different from what I have been trying already. For one thing, my boys don't do well with bribes, stickers, a toy jar (used as an example to stop whining) or anything like that. I know that these things do work for other parents, but we've tried them and it doesn't work for us.

However, do not let my review stop you from checking this book out ~~ I highly encourage parents to check this little book out as it may have solutions for YOU. Everyone is different and this book does offer tried solutions that work for a lot of kids. What works for me may not work for you and vice versa. It is a cute little book designed to capture your attention. It is full of creative ideas and solutions.

It just wasn't what I needed or had in mind.

1-17-06

I cannot understand WHY this book is no longer available! Thankfully, I was able to get a copy, but it shouldn't be this hard. In fact, they should give you this book along with "What To Expect..." when you leave the hospital! I loved how it comes up with creative and fun solutions to everyday problems. Please put this book back into print, for Mothers everywhere!

This is such a cleaver book!! Can't wait to test out the tips and Cons :) Very cleaver ideas on how to get your kid(s) to do things they do not want to.

Ended up just skimming the book - loved the title, but reality was I didn't need any of the advice. Some silly ideas and probably won't use the book.

I read the few pages of this book in Parents magazine, applied how to wash their hair techniques and to my surprise, he was like "ok mommy lets do it!" He loved everything they said to do.

I just ordered this book and am so excited! Who ever wrote this needs to have their hand shook, taken to dinner and hugged!

Thank you SO much to the author!!!!!!

Great suggestions in this book, for situations that are not easy. I have bought 5, for gifts to new parents and/or grandparents.

Fun to read. Wish I had this book before my first born, 42 years ago.

I love it.

I don't have any children but began buying this book for friends who were having babies. I think the ideas in this book are fun and my pregnant friends and now-parents find them amusing with lots of good ideas that turn daily activities into games that really will scam your kid.

very funny and enlightening on how to really get you kids to agree to do things. It's mostly lighthearted good, fun advice. I bought the book and have really enjoyed reading it.