Product Details

• Actors: Dr. Thomas W. Phelan, Alan Westbrook, Alison Vesely, Anna Westbrook, Joey Morano
• Directors: Ned Miller
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Child Management, Inc.
• VHS Release Date: December 12, 1990
• Run Time: 120 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6301924967
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #8,079 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
This 1990 production has been getting good words on Web parenting message boards and for good reason: it works. Dr. Thomas Phelan, a clinical psychologist, developed the program for his own children when they were young and in the thralls of hyperactivity and sibling rivalry. The two-hour show features his explanation of the program interspersed with dramatic scenarios and parent testimonials. The corny vignettes and repetitive testimonials are somewhat extraneous, but the nut of the information is invaluable. Phelan urges parents to get away from explaining everything to kids, who aren't listening to you anyway, he says, but he's not a spanking advocate either. His approach is rational and simple: counting and then time-out. You've done that, you say? Well, watch the tape and see what you're doing wrong. His method has been honed by parents and teachers who have come back to him with refinements. These include ways to encourage kids to start good behaviors once the bad behaviors are under control. Phelan is personable and dryly funny (think parents as wild-animal trainers), and the absence of a hard- sell tone makes watching this production a pleasant experience. --Kimberly Heinrichs

From the Back Cover
It's not easy being a parent - and handling the disrespectful outbursts of children in a reasonable, unemotional manner when they're acting like "little monsters." Obviously parents need help, but not help that requires they be a genius, saint or professional psychotherapist.

With 1-2-3 Magic you will learn:
How to get your kids to STOP doing what you don't want them to do (arguing, whining, tantrums, sibling rivalry, etc.)
How to encourage your kids to START doing what you want them to do (cleaning rooms, going to bed, homework, etc.)
How to avoid the Talk-Persuade-Argue-Yell-Hit Syndrome
How to handle misbehavior in public.
How to deal with the Six Kinds of Testing and Manipulation.
Ten steps for building self-esteem.
Teachers: How to maintain control in your classroom.

1-2-3 Magic - addresses the difficult task of child discipline with humor, keen insight and proven experience. This time-tested program provides easy-to-follow steps for disciplining children aged 2-12 without yelling, arguing or spanking. You'll also learn when - and how - your silence can speak louder than you think. Watch this video and take charge of your home!

Dr. Thomas W. Phelan is a nationally renowned expert and lecturer on child discipline and Attention Deficit Disorder. He appears frequently on both radio and TV, and has been engaged in full-time private practice since 1972. Dr. Phelan is a registered Ph.D. Clinical Psychologist who founded the Illinois Association for Hyperactivity and Attention Deficit Disorder. He is also the author of Surviving Your Adolescents and All About Attention Deficit Disorder.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

64 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 1-2-3 Magic insights are 'real-world' and they WORK!, June 16, 1999

By A Customer

Our local elementary school counselor offered to lend this video to any parent who was open-minded enough to watch and listen. My husband and I borrowed it, and were pleased to find that Thomas Phelan's suggests an approach to parenting that reflects: parents don't need to share parenting control with our children, we ARE the parents! Part-way into the school year we teamed with the teachers to employ the tactics Phelan describes, and watched our boy chose better behavior and attitude, then improve his grades significantly -- without bribing, cajoling, begging, yelling, or concocting exhausting and ineffective 'shared-control' parenting schemes (as prescribed by some other 'parenting experts') to outwit him! We've now purchased it so we can refresh our knowledge as needed.

62 of 65 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "1-2-3 MAGIC" REALLY WORKS, September 4, 2000

By	Frank Burton "a music lover" (San Francisco Bay Area, CA, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I've used the "1-2-3 Magic" principles with kids with behavior problems who I was counseling, and my own grandkids, and also used the video in parenting classes which I was teaching to other parents and teachers. These methods really work.

Dr. Phelan presents simple, straightforward methods to deal with kids ages 2-12, with before and after vignettes, and with wit and humor. He covers many problem situations such as a kid acting out when the parent is on the phone or when you're out shopping together or in the car on a trip, always with authority and humor.

I reviewed numerous videos when I was counseling grade-school and high-school age kids who had behavior and/or academic problems, and their parents; I found nothing else which comes close to "1-2-3 Magic" for providing sound principles and methods for dealing with them. This is a complete system for dealing with kids ages 2-12. It also provides a good foundation for dealing with teenagers, though there are some more principles which are needed for teens (and the best source I've found for these principles are in one of Dr. Phelan's books, "How to Survive Your Adolescents".)

36 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars New Stress Reliever- 1-2-3 Magic!, November 18, 2002

By	Gena Sheppard (Alberta,Canada) - See all my reviews

I'm a 34 year old, stay at home Mom, trying to raise a 6 year old daughter. She's a very demanding,stubborn,and mature child. I'm also raising a 16 year old with Down's Syndrome,and my husband is away alot with work. Before I saw the video of 1-2-3 Magic,I was at my wits end with my little tyrant,who was definitely running my home. Every supper time was horendous,getting out the door in the morning was the same. She was upsetting the whole family and I'd basically tried everything. She didn't like what was put before her for supper,and never finished it. Her focus was on dessert. Getting up for school and out the door in the morning was just as bad. She didn't have anything to wear and what she did have was stupid,according to her. I tried punishing her with the usual things like "time out",I yelled at her when my patience was gone,I took away her privileges,nothing worked. When I was asked to view this video 1-2-3 Magic,I was skepticle,but agreed anyway. After just a few minutes,I grabbed a pen and paper and started making notes. It was as if Dr.Phlen actually knew me and my child personally. That same day after watching the video,I waited patiently for my beloved 6 year old to come home,and I sat her down and explained briefly,the way things were going to be around here. I picked some things out of the video that was applicable to my child,and instantly started incorporating them. She was appalled that she had to start "paying me" for doing "her" chores,only if "she" refused to do them herself of course. She has also started making her bed before going to school in the morning,and getting better at the supper table. I would definitely incourage all parents to watch this video,it sure changed my family's life for the better. It was a relief! Thank-you Dr.Phelan for relieving some of my stress and enjoying my beloved 6 year old again.