Laying Down the Law: The 25 Laws of Parenting to Keep Your Kids on Track, Out of Trouble, and (Pretty Much) Under Control [Hardcover]

Ruth Peters (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2002 | ISBN-10: 1579545858 | ISBN-13: 978-1579545857

Dr. Peters lays down the law25 of them to be exactin this no-nonsense playbook for keeping (or restoring) order in your home. With nearly three decades of family counseling experience to draw upon, Dr. Peters has seen it allfrom unruly kids to out-of-control teens. She shares real stories that demonstrate the profound, positive effects that her methods have had in families across America. Her firm but entertaining approach addresses parents most important problems and their most common mistakes, showing them how to set and enforce loving laws of discipline and respect.Dr. Peters gives parents the tools to prioritize and enforce the rules and values that are most important to them. The laws give parents permission to parent by encouraging them to trust their judgmentand act decisively. For parents who fall into patterns of futile nagging without results, Dr. Peters explains the need for, and her proven method to enforce, catastrophic consequences when the code of values is violated. The bottom line is a better-behaved, better-adjusted kid.With shelves full of bland parenting guidebooks to choose from, parents and caregivers alike will find Dr. Peterss national reputation, no-nonsense attitude, and home-tested, results-oriented advice both refreshing and reassuring.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Don't worry about being too hard on your kids: the bigger problem, according to psychologist Peters, is that parents are too soft. The author of Don't Be Afraid to Discipline argues that refraining from imposing punishments and allowing children and adolescents to do as they please (whether it's from fear of contributing to a negative self-image or simply from weakness or indifference) produces kids that are disrespectful, uncontrollable and often disliked by peers and superiors. The key, the Today show contributor and parenting pro argues, is "for parents to take a stand, to draw a line in the sand, and to lay down the law." In a step-by-step program that explains exactly which rules are necessary to enforce, how parents can implement them properly, and why they are so integral to a child's upbringing, this guidebook is coherent, realistic, and, most importantly, makes sense-even if some of Peters's edicts ("Appoint Yourself Benevolent Dictator," "Make Consequences Catastrophic") sound a trifle harsh. Placing the responsibility squarely on parents, Peters emphasizes that it is never too late to discipline a child, and that while it may not always be fun, "effective parenting can be simple
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"If there ever was an owner's manual for your kids, Laying Down the Law is it. When I read Ruth Peters, it's like she's channeling my parents and grandparents with commonsense, logical advice for today's parent."--Al Roker, NBC's Today show

"Dr. Peters really understands the challenges that today's parents face-- and how to help. Easy to read and often humorous, this book reminds us why old-fashioned values can still work best to guide our children. It's straightforward talk that will benefit parents-- dare I say she's the Judge Judy of parenting?!"--Nancy Samalin, M.S., best-selling author of Loving Your Child Is Not Enough and Loving without Spoiling

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Rodale Press (September 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1579545858
• ISBN-13: 978-1579545857
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,352,051 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just the facts, ma'am, March 21, 2003

By 

Victoria Rivas (Waterbury, CT United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Laying Down the Law: The 25 Laws of Parenting to Keep Your Kids on Track, Out of Trouble, and (Pretty Much) Under Control (Hardcover)

If you're looking for a "squeezy, feely" book about how to get your children to be "good people", this is not the book for you. But if you're having problems getting your children to do homework, clean their rooms, do chores, and generally behave, Dr. Peters has a lot of good advice for you.

Peters takes a real life approach to raising children. We have a society that rewards good behavior and punishes bad behavior. We get paid for work, we go to jail for breaking the laws. She proposes that we set up this same philosophy at home.

The main theme of the book is that a parent is a "benevolent dictator". No matter how much you want to be your children's friend, your job is to be their parent, to discipline them, to get them to do the right thing, even if they do not understand the philosophical reasons for doing this.

For example, education. She says that a child is not going to understand the value of an education versus being popular. They will, however, understand that they will receive rewards when they get good grades and be punished when they get bad grades.

And her ideas for rewards and punishments are very sound too. We have been using the "chip" system she suggests in the book and it is working splendidly. Children are rewarded for having a "good day" with poker chips that can be cashed in for money, clothing and electricity. Yes, television, video games and even radio time must be paid for. And punishment includes giving away prized possessions to homeless shelters and other children's programs. Yet, knowing that children do not always behave, there is leeway to misbehave "some" and still have a "good day."

This is the best child rearing book I have found in a long time, and I will keep it by my bedside for years to come.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for raising polite and responsive children!, July 10, 2004

By 

Julie (Burkburnett, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Laying Down the Law: The 25 Laws of Parenting to Keep Your Kids on Track, Out of Trouble, and (Pretty Much) Under Control (Paperback)

I got this book off my local bookstore shelf and drove right in. I have one daughter of my own and 2 step children. The Step kids have NOT had ANY discipline from their birth mother and were disrupting my calm and structured household. My main concern was that these kids behaviors would be taught to my well mannered and polite daughter. I had to do something and FAST! These children had no concept of earning their privilidges or listening skills and my new husband and I were going NUTS! I went to the book store for help and this book was a GOD sent! It is not for the timid or people without a backbone. You must be able to Lay down the law and follow through will all consequences "with teeth" every time. Kids need consistenancy and rules. Ms. Peters outlines how to do this and how to get the kids moving and moving NOW, with timers and teaching kids the work ethic and rewards for choosing good behavior. I recommend this book to all parents who have the ability to really take a hard look at themselves and are ready to make some difficult changes in their own behavior for the benefit of thier children. Read it - it's excellent!

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very good book about child rearing, September 6, 2003

By 

Manhattan Mom (NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Laying Down the Law: The 25 Laws of Parenting to Keep Your Kids on Track, Out of Trouble, and (Pretty Much) Under Control (Hardcover)

Everything that Dr. Peters says in this book appears to be common sense, yet I know very few people that actually act like this. She lays down a very simple framework about what our children should and shouldn't do, and it is an extremely helpful guide.

The format is very straightforward. The beginning of each chapter spells out what the law is. She adds a "real life"story about inappropriate behavior, and she follows up with how you can truly get good behavior again.

As a busy mother, I found the book easy to get through, and not too clinical.

The only thing I didn't like was some parts of her chapter on bullying. Some of her ways to stop the child from being bullied seemed to be a bit off target. Otherwise, this is a great book on parenting.