Without Spanking or Spoiling: A Practical Approach to Toddler and Preschool Guidance [Paperback]

Elizabeth Crary (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1993

If you feel trapped between extremes when you're disciplining your children, you'll appreciate the time-tested advice in this classic guide. You don't have to spank your children to get them to behave--and you don't have to worry that you're spoiling them, either. Drawing from four major child guidance philosophies, parent educator Elizabeth Crary provides dozens of examples and exercises to help you find the best way to rear your children. "Without Spanking or Spoiling" will help you understand:

- Why scolding and spanking can increase the very behavior you want to avoid;
- Why praising children sometimes leads to problems;
- How to get kids to substitute an acceptable behavior for something intolerable; and
- How to determine effective consequences for unacceptable behavior.

First published in 1979, Without Spanking or Spoiling has been described as "a treasure trove of ideas" by critics and parents across North America. With almost 300,000 copies sold, it's one of the best-regarded resources for parents struggling with discipline issues.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A treasure trove of ideas for every parent who has ever felt frustrated, bewildered, or discouraged. The book's rich use of vignettes and exercises enhances parent awareness of how kids think and feel . . . this book boosts parent power and helps parents experience pleasure and pride in their parenting skills." -- Dr. Alice Honig, Professor of Child Development, Syracuse University.

From the Back Cover

Parents often feel trapped into choosing between two extremes spanking or spoiling their children. But both spanking and spoiling are avoidable using the variety of options Elizabeth Crary has offered parents over 20 years.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Parenting Pr; 2nd edition (January 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0943990742
• ISBN-13: 978-0943990743
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #336,625 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

68 of 68 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellant book on discipline of toddlers & preschoolers, August 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Without Spanking or Spoiling: A Practical Approach to Toddler and Preschool Guidance (Paperback)

As a mother of 5 children, and family nurse practitioner, I highly recommend this book for parents of toddlers and preschool age children. Ms Crary gives many options for discipline along with realistic guidelines as to common discipline problems parents have with children in the one to 5 year old age group. Her work is based on sound developmental psychology. She knows well what is appropriate behavior for the various ages, what discipline strategies are likely to encourage the desired behavior in children, and what behaviors can safely and easily be ignored. I highly recommend this book not only to my clients in the office, but to my children as they parent. It has been gratefully received by my daughter-in-law, and she is recommending it to her sisters-in-law and friends, as they enter this stage of parenting. Beth Aversa, Family Nurse Practitioner

61 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommended-Especially if you are sick of 'time out', April 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Without Spanking or Spoiling: A Practical Approach to Toddler and Preschool Guidance (Paperback)

I ordered this book for some suggestions on disciplining my toddler. Not only did it help me change my attitude toward's his 'misbehavior', but it gives many alternatives to spanking and time out. In fact, most of the suggestions don't involve discipline but rather help you to get your toddler to do what you want him/her to do so that discipline isn't necessary. I recommend this book for anyone whose ever felt exhausted from fighting with their toddler all day.

49 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Guide to Painless Discipline, October 30, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Without Spanking or Spoiling: A Practical Approach to Toddler and Preschool Guidance (Paperback)

As the mother of a 'spirited' toddler, I am constantly searching for ways to instill discipline without damaging one or both of us in the process. "Without Spanking or Spoiling," gives step-by-step ways to handle almost any disciplinary problem your toddler might give you. The worksheets provide a chance to gain insight into your toddler's problems, and the back pages provide solutions to the 10 most common toddler disciplinary issues. I used one of the suggestions within minutes of finishing the book (my toddler likes to throw things at her infant sister), and instantly received positive results, and those results are still in effect 10 days later. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who is the parent or caregiver of toddlers. My copy is in great demand at our playgroup!