Customer Reviews

The Kazdin Method for Parenting the Defiant Child

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I am a mother of 6 strong minded, intelligent, stubborn children, and this is the best, most helpful parenting book I have ever read. The things I love about this book are;
1. Kazdin's methods are based on years of scientific research, not just compiled opinions about what "the experts" think "should" work with children.
2. This is real world stuff that any parent with an open mind can do - and even if you just do SOME of it, IT STILL WORKS.
3. IT WORKS. QUICKLY. The techniques outlined in this book can be applied to all different types of kids, all different ages & severity of problems, and it sets up a positive environment that everyone can feel good about.
4. Kazdin gives very specific examples and varied scenarios for each segment.
I can't imagine that ANY parent would not benefit from this book. If I could give this more than 5 stars, I would.

I'm a child psychiatrist and can tell you that this book is great. Helpful for all parents, not only parents of extremely defiant children. Talks about the power of positive feedback, versus persistent punishing, etc. This is what child mental health professionals use and teach and it works. Its also easy to read and interesting.

if you're tired of yelling, hitting and generally just being not nice to your child in order to get him/her to behave, this book is for you. this book taught me that being kind and reserving unpleasant (but not mean) punishments for unwanted behavior works! it seems almost too simple/easy to actually work, but trust me it's all in the finer points of the technique. it tamed my two wild boys when nothing else would.

This is an excellent book that offers details about how to shape the behavior of your child without using threats, violence, shaming, punishment or any other barbaric methods.

I am SO thankful that I found this book about using positive reinforcement for children. I think I might buy more copies of this book and offer it as a gift to other parents.

This book is for ALL parents, not just the parents of defiant children.

This is the first Amazon.com review I have written. I just had to write a review for this book (and I read many books from Amazon.com) because I am convinced that by using the methods in this book I will not screw-up my child with half-baked (read religiously inspired "spare the rod, spoil the child") ideas about discipline and punishment. Also, and most importantly, I now have confidence that my relationship with my daughter will remain secure and positive for years and years, now that I can deal positively and effectively with her misbehavior.

This book offers some excellent descriptions and I definitely recommend it to parents. However, calling it "The Kazdin Method" gives the false impression that the author has pioneered something that he has not. Behavioral contracts, token/point economies, differential reinforcement, shaping, extinction, ABC analysis. The book is misnamed: it should be titled "The Applied Behavior Analysis Method".

At the very least, given that the approach draws so heavily on positive reinforcement, a behavioral principle pioneered by Skinner, the author should have put Skinner front and center as a primary source. Yet Skinner's name is mentioned once only in passing and in reference to punishment. Given the credentials of the author, this seems more likely the result of product design than oversight. That's unfortunate.

Also, see the book by the late Glenn Latham- a behavior analyst- titled "The Power of Positive Parenting". I was surprised to see the author "turn" this phrase since Latham's book used the phrase in the title of his book over 15yrs ago.

Kazdin's Parent Management Training book did a nice job of referencing applied behavior analysis as a primary source of material. It would have been nice if this book did the same.

Alan Kazdin's book, The Kazdin Method for Parenting the Defiant Child, is a must read for any parent whether or not that parent has a difficult child. In this book, Dr. Kazdin lays out the basic principles of reinforcement and punishment and shows how reward/sticker charts can be used to modify almost any child's undesirable behavior. These techniques can be quite powerful. Additionally, as parents we control many of the "rewards" in our child's life, including the most important reward of all, our attention. If we are ignorant of the principles of reinforcement, we often end up rewarding our children for behaviors that we consider undesirable. Kazdin's book is a favorite of mine and is an indispensable resource for all parents.

This book was easy to read and the method easy to use. This book is not just for "defiant" kids but also works for uncooperative ones. It turned around my parenting and my six year old went from frustrated, angry, and resentful to happy, loving, and eager to please in a matter of days. The more willing my boys were, the more relaxed and loving I also became. I am a true believer - convinced by the author's thirty years of clinical experience - and by my own person experience. If you are having trouble with your kids and feeling like you somehow got to a place where you never wanted to be as a parent, buy this book! You won't be disappointed.

Helpful - he nails the problem from the first page to the last. AND even better, has specific solutions. Don't let your gut instincts trip you up from following his advice - your 'instinct' may be wrong in dealing with a defiant child - mine was.

What I love about this book is that the recommendations are not based on some "theory " of parenting but based on a scientific study of what works. Its not about blame or talent its just nuts and bolts of proven techniques to help a child (and parent) trade stubborn opposition for becoming a team! I think any parent would benefit by knowing the contents of this book!

This book is a wonderful guideline for positive discipline. After reading this book our family dynamic changed for the better. My 3 and 5 year olds have responded great to high fives, hugs, and their sticker charts for accomplishing goals of going to bed, listening, talking nicely, and sharing. Thank you Dr. Kazin for sharing this method of discipline.