1,2,3 Magic : an Easy to Learn and Effective Basic Behavior Management System for Parents

As a therapist working, primarily, with children and families for nearly 30 years, finding materials that parents can read and use is an ongoing struggle. Some years back, I came across an earlier edition of this book and have used it, successfully, with literally hundreds of families. It presents, in regular language, a deceptively simple-sounding system that allows parents whose children are presenting common behavior problems with a way to manage their children that accomplishes two very important things. 1) Used correctly and consistently, the responsibility for the unacceptable behavior is clearly assigned to the child, and, perhaps more importantly, 2) Dr. Phelan gives parents the tools they need to deal with these 'problematic' behaviors without getting too emotionally upset about it themselves. The second point is impossible to overvalue: When a child behaves badly and the parent responds by getting upset - it is often akin to throwing gasoline on a small fire. That metaphor is, in my experience, not hyperbole!