Positive Parenting with a Plan (Grades K-12): F.A.M.I.L.Y. Rules (Paperback)

~ Dr. Matthew A. Johnson (Author) "THEY DIDN'T GIVE us an instruction manual on parenting when we brought our child home from the hospital!..." (more)
Key Phrases: habit cards, written rules help, parental inaction, Western Samoa, Child Protective Services, Grants Pass (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An absence of structure afflicts a vast number of contemporary American families. There are many sources of this dreadful phenomenon including substance abuse, mental illness, divorce, illegitimacy, financial pressures, and moral inadequacy, to name just a few. Whatever the primary sources of the lack of family structure may be, the absence of structure itself invariably leads the family further down the spiral of despair, dysfunction, disease and delinquency. Dr. Matthew A. Johnson ("Dr. J.") and his F.A.M.I.L.Y. Rules parenting system offer a powerful alternative to family chaos. F.A.M.I.L.Y. Rules presents a solid and coherent structure for families in need. In this book, he first presents a philosophical and intellectual framework for F.A.M.I.L.Y. Rules and then presents the system itself in an absolutely clear and straightforward manner. F.A.M.I.L.Y. Rules is a product of who and what "Dr. J." himself is, a child of a family with problems, an outstanding competitive athlete, a dedicated and highly trained professional, and a man of strong conviction who practices what he believes. While F.A.M.I.L.Y. Rules is highly structured, it is not rigid. Within the structure is plenty of room for individuality and creativity just as the rules of basketball leave room for the individuality and creativity of a Michael Jordan or a Dr. J. Families who understand and correctly and consistently implement F.A.M.I.L.Y. Rules will be protected from many of the most pernicious ills of our time. I am pleased to recommend F.A.M.I.L.Y. Rules." --Hillel I. Swiller, MD, FAPA, FAGPA, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry , Mount Sinai School of Medicine , New York, New York

"I spend a great deal of time working with AT RISK children and their families. I have observed that organization and structure helps to greatly improve the family environment. Dr. Johnson s book, F.A.M.I.L.Y. Rules, helps parents to restore responsibility and respect in their homes. Children and adolescents learn to obey their parents and other authority figures at school, church, and in their community. Everyone learns to communicate their expectations and friendships develop as a result. The whole family wins with F.A.M.I.L.Y. Rules!" --Mark Eaton, Former All-Star Center, Utah Jazz

"Parents who understand and implement FAMILY Rules will be protected from the most pernicious ills of our time." -- Hillel I. Swiller, MD, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York

"Raising healthy, responsible, contented children is a challenge! Most parents grew up with little experience in child rearing, then suddenly find themselves responsible for the 24-hour care of a precious little one who eats, sleeps, breathes, and acts in ways which alternately delight and frustrate. In a simple, direct, light-hearted, and principled way, Dr. Johnson s book, F.A.M.I.L.Y. Rules, provides a practical instruction manual for helpfully dealing with the inevitable challenges of parenting." --Rodger K. Bufford, Ph.D., Professor and Director of Integration, Graduate School of Clinical Psychology, George Fox University

Dr. Johnson’s book helps parents to restore responsibility and respect in their homes. The whole family wins! -- Mark Eaton, Former All-Star Center, Utah Jazz

In a simple, light-hearted, and principled way, Dr. Johnson’s book helps to deal with the challenges of parenting. -- Rodger K. Bufford, Ph.D., George Fox University

Product Description

Dr. Johnson ( Dr. J. )has been teaching this parenting program since 1987. After much pressure from professionals and parents to write a book, he finally wrote the book in 2000. Since 2001, he s been speaking in 80 cities per year all over the USA. He has trained over 20,000 professionals on how to work with parents with out of control children. Positive Parenting with a Plan: FAMILY Rules is now being used by group homes, treatment facilities, psychiatric research hospitals, private practitioners, pediatricians, probation officers, public and private schools, churches and synagogues, divorce courts, foster care systems, child protective services agencies, and by thousands of parents across the USA. Finally, even parents in Europe, Africa, South America, and Australia are benefiting from using Positive Parenting with a Plan: FAMILY Rules in their homes too.

As a result of speaking around the USA in 80 cities per year since 2001, some agencies have grabbed a hold of Dr. Johnson s parenting program, used it in their facilities, and have conducted their own research studies. Here is one example:

In September of 2005, while completing the networking time at the beginning of Dr. Johnson s seminar in Atlanta GA, Dr. David Anthony stood up and shared that their agency, Family Intervention Specialists, Inc., employs 57 counselors throughout 11 counties in the state of Georgia. He then told the seminar attendees that they have been using Positive Parenting with a Plan/FAMILY Rules for the past 2 years with their juvenile clients and families (i.e., from 2003 to 2005). He shared that their research demonstrated that their families have an 85% success rate with this program (i.e., the juvenile offenders are not reoffending). Finally, he stated that they would probably have a 95% success rate if they could weed out the hardened offenders.

In summary, Positive Parenting with a Plan/FAMILY Rules works because of the input from many moms, dads, and kids during the first two years of developing the program. It works because it supports and promotes parental authority through the use of the Hierarchy Model rather than King Arthur s Round Table . It works because the philosophical foundation of the parenting program has been built upon a rock rather than sinking sand (i.e., There are a lot of parenting programs out there that look good, sound good, smell good, and feel good but they re philosophically flawed because their philosophical foundations have been built upon sinking sand and ultimately undermine adult authority in the home, school, and in the community). It works because it targets the whole family system for changing their attitudes and behaviors not just the child(ren). Finally, it works because it takes good old fashioned parenting and puts it together in a new and improved package, minus corporal punishment, and provides order and structure in the home for parenting which is the chemo therapy needed to eliminate the dysfunctional cancer in your home. There is no other parenting program out there like this one. If you want things to actually change in your home with a spelled out game plan for implementing the program from A-Z, then you ve finally found it. If you correctly and consistently implement this program in your home, then expect things to get a whole lot better. Your quest is over. You have arrived. Congratulations!!!

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Product Details

• Paperback: 190 pages
• Publisher: Publication Consultants (December 31, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1888125462
• ISBN-13: 978-1888125467
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #263,886 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent system of behavior training.., June 17, 2006

By	hmbnd2 "Sonlight lover" (chillin' with my laptop) - See all my reviews

positive, that is. A friend, who is a child Psychologist, recommended this book to me. She has attended Dr. Johnson's seminars and swears by his system. It was originally developed for group homes of troubled teens. When the kids went back home, they went back to their old ways. Parents needed a new way of teaching their children positive behavior and discouraging negative behavior. In comes the F.A.M.I.L.Y. Rules. This is an acronym. Each letter stands for an aspect of the program. In general, you set up rules for your family and then you make a point system for breaking them. The points are numbers of cards that must be completed called "Good Habit Cards". They're chores, nice things for someone, etc. Say, if hitting your brother is 2 points, then you would draw 2 cards from the pile and complete those cards. Could be mop the floor, read a book to little brother, or wash parents sheets. Also for having a perfect day, you get a token. So many tokens can be redeemed for specials treats: movie with friends, toy, extra 1hr at bedtime, etc. Great system. We use it, but it is time consuming to set up, but totally worth it. Must be consistent to see results though. Highly recommended. There's a support group online also. BTW, this book used to be called "Mother Rules".

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Greatest Parenting Book On The Planet, January 9, 2005

By	Amanda C. Elliott "TexasACE" (Friendswood, Texas) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Wow, this book was the answer to our family's prayers. Dr. Johnson keeps it simple and he's very funny. I've read many parenting books, but this one is the most practical approach to parenting I've ever read. Our kids have enjoyed the implementation of Dr. Johnson's parenting program in our home. All other parenting programs are second place compared to this one. Step aside Dr. Phil, there is a new kid in town and his name is Dr. J!!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The book for parents, March 21, 2007

By	Cathi J. Campbell (La Grande, OR) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was at my wits end with my son until getting this book and putting it to good use with my family. My son was angry bitter rude disrespectful and the change in him since we have been doing this is like night and day. The tension in our family that was a constant reminder things weren't working is now gone, the angry bitter child is now happy helpful and kind.

This book gives you the tools you need to not just get the kids on the right track but the entire family as well. It is so clearly stated and easy to follow and set up. It does take effort and work to keep it going but the results can not be argued if you follow the book!

I highly recommend this book!