Recommend to parents again and again

I am writing this review from a parent's perspective and a therapists perspective because I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!! I am a school social worker and parents ask me all the time how to handle discipline problems at home. For most kids 2 to 12, this will do the trick. I used it myself with my "8-going-on-16" year old.

First of all, it is a VERY easy read. I read the entire book in under 2 hours. If you can master the basics: dealing with discipline issues with no outward expression of emotion and only saying what is absolutely necessary, you'll have won half the battle, as I find parents tend to a)lecture too much (trying to convince the child to act right) or b)yell too much (which always worked for me as a kid---NOT!!)

I love the fact that it lays out all the different roles your child will take to get what he/she wants and that it takes you through so many possible scenerios so you know how to respond in virtually any situation. My own daughter (who usually IS an angel!) tried testing me with the mocking tone "That's one". I stayed calm and responded with "that's two" just like the book said. That was the last I heard from her!! Never have gotten to three!

My warning is that if you have a very, very challenging child, you may need to check out "The Explosive Child" also or instead of "1-2-3 Magic".

All in all, I have to recommend this book (and there is a video that is just as comprehensive) because of the 20 times I have "prescribed" it, I have gotten 20 positive responses!! It does work if you use it consistently!!!