How to Behave So Your Children Will, Too!

Every parent has nightmares about that moment when their child is refused a request (I want a candy bar, Mommy! Not today, Johnny.) and in response, he falls to the ground, screams, and thrashes about--all in a very public place. Mortified by this tantrum, Mommy might be tempted to give in, buy the candy bar, end the embarrassing moment, and ultimately behave in a way that tells Johnny tantrums work. There's a better way, says Sal Severe, author of How to Behave So Your Children Will, Too!. His commonsense advice has been culled from his years as an educator working with children with behavior disorders. Many of the anecdotal stories that pepper How to Behave were gathered during parenting workshops that have reached more than 20,000 parents.

Solidly putting the responsibility for a child's behavior on the parents, How to Behave addresses a wide range of issues, such as how children learn to push their parents' buttons, why children misbehave, and how to motivate kids to behave using simple rules and consequences. Push aside all the nitty-gritty advice, however, and several themes emerge. Over and over, Severe emphasizes that raising a child requires total parental consistency, that it takes awhile to get results from new parenting techniques, and that overall, parenting is a very tough job.

While this book (honored and recommended by the Parent Council, Parents' Choice Foundation, and the National Parenting Center) doesn't break any new ground, it does reinforce many tried and true parenting techniques. As Severe says, "This book provides hundreds of ideas. Not all of them will work all the time. You need to select the ideas that make sense to you." While some veteran parents might find his advice too basic, this is an invaluable book for mothers and fathers beginning the parenting journey. And even long-time parents are sure to find some valuable gems that will be useful as their children grow, change, and offer new behavioral challenges. --Virginia Smyth