Advises not punishing kids. “Can you remember being punished as a child? Did it inspire you to change your bad behavior” (88)? Yes, it did for me! And it did for many other kids I know! If a punishment doesn’t work, it’s because it isn’t harsh enough for the kid to care. Instead of thinking, “How can I control this child?” we can think of our child as being on the same team and invite his help and participation.” Punishments and rewards don’t always work as well as we think. Describe your child’s progress – Explain the process he/she completed when he/she accomplished a goal like sounding out each letter and putting them together to complete an entire sentence!

You can’t go by yourself to the park, but you can play in the neighbor’s yard.” 22. Give Advance Notice Make sure you have a short explanation of what the problem is. The problem statement has to be short and touch on how that problem affects you as the parent. Simplicity is key at this stage. The classic business statement is: “I’m not sure we’re asking the right questions, solving the right problem.” Describe your child’s effect on others – instead of being proud and expressing how sweet and fun he/she is with their sibling, comment on how much their baby brother loves when you make those sounds and those silly faces. Brainstorm solutions with them. Write down all the suggestions, even the ridiculous ones. Then eliminate the ones that definitely won’t work (“No, we can’t make your sister live in the basement”) until you can come up with a compromise.This book is not about training or teaching your children, rather simply how to motivate them. I think that should preface the book, however it does not. I fear that some people may use this as an end all be all for their parenting, and I think that would be a very incomplete view of parenting. Getting a consequence and a punishment….the child is still getting pain in the hope of changing their behaviour.

When we demonstrate generosity of spirit by accepting feelings, we help our children become more resilient” Practical Solutions for Everyday This book is a treasure trove of practical solutions for the everyday challenges parents face. From handling tantrums to navigating bedtime battles, it provides actionable strategies that can be applied immediately, making family life smoother and more harmonious.If there is a dispute over who should have control over the remote, for example, don’t make the dispute something you can belittle because it’s important to the child.