The Happiest Toddler on the Block by Harvey Karp, Paula Spencer, 0553381431, Lowest Book Price Finder

Customer Reviews:

A reassuring, valuable tool

I was given this book by a colleague and I found it an excellent read that gave me a much needed confidence boost. As a new parent I had little experience with babies and saw them as mythical super-sensitive creatures. Dr Karp's book serves as a reminder that humnas have been having babies and rearing them succesfully since time immemorial - usin gresources that pale in comparison with what we have at our disposal.

He also reminds us that there is a reason that a number of baby calming techniques survived for centuries. His 5 Ss technique is super even for babies that do not have colics.

If you are about to have a baby buy this book!

Many Techniques Really Work...although awkward at first

Although the analogy to prehistoric man is overdone a bit, there are so many sensible, clear strategies offered in this book to try with 1-4 year olds that really are working for us. We learned how to talk what the author calls "toddler-ese"...and it has really made a positive difference in the cooperation we are now getting from our 2 and 3 year olds. The author's suggeston of mirroring their feelings and "wants" with short, repeated phrases that reflect the child's words, tone and body lauguage has quickly and almost magically stopped much of my toddlers' defiant, annoying behaviors. Karp emphasizes that what you say to someone who is really upset is less important than HOW YOU SAY IT. And his theory has proven itself to be correct in our home.
The only suggestion in the book that I have a problem with is using a hook and eye latch to lock a child in his room even for a very short time-out. I feel this can be scary for the child and although it may get the child to know that you do mean business, I prefer not to get compliance from my children with fear, guilt or humiliation. Karp does suggest that you explain to the child in "toddler-ese" how the locking mechanism works so that he will know the door will not open when mom uses it.

I also recommend another one of my favorite parenting reference books as a compliment to Karp's hardcover book called "The Pocket Parent". This is a very practical, quick read, little paperback book loaded with many positive discipline and communications tips written exclusively for parents of 2-5 year olds. Peppered with humor and organized alphabetically by behaviors such as: Anger, Bad Words, Biting, Bedtime and Mealtime Refusals, the "Gimmees", Interrrupting, Morning "Crazies", and Whining...Pocket Parent is a real sanity saver. Both books will lift your spirits with specific ideas to try as well as loads of compassionte support from authors that have been there, too... especially when you feel you are just about at the end of your tether with the little ones.

Disappointing

Having read how Pierce Brosnan swore by this book for dealing with troublesome toddlers, I thought I'd have a go. The idea of treating your wee one like a Neanderthal in terms of her brain development seemed strange, and I must confess that I haven't been able to overcome the embarrassment of trying to use the procedures in this book. Christopher Green's 'Toddler Taming' was much more successul - sorry!

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