Rating: 
Summary: The worst discipline book I've ever read!
Review: How can children possibly learn to behave with threats and intimidation? The 1-2-3 Magic "method" employs a strategy of making children mind their parents without mutual respect or communication. This book is terrible! When I heard of the 1-2-3 Magic I immediately was concerned that it was means to control children but I decided to actually read the book in it's entirety before I made further judgements. Upon reading it I was shocked at how manipulative and power-tripping it was! I work with high risk parents and children and I actively discourage them from using the 1-2-3 because they continue to threaten their children with beatings and punishments as they are used to. This method does NOT work to enhance a child's self-esteem but it DOESwork to frighten children into obedience. Beware those who use this method as you may soon find your children take to lying and sneaking as well as hating you with a passion! I also recommed Barbara Coloroso (who has recently come out with a new book) as well as Elaine Mazlish and Adele Faber.
Rating: 
Summary: An endorsement of Dr. Phelan's appraoch to discipline.
Review: 1-2-3 Magic is just that, Magic. It takes the stress out of discipline. It helps everyone keep calm and allows us a much needed time out. Instead of shouting matches that noone can win, and only teach how to scream, 5 minutes of quiet to regain control. After the five minutes most times the situation has handled itself. Parents need to be consistent in their approach to handling children, and this makes that job easy, no favorites,no tug of war, everyone is on the same page. It is so effective,school teachers can use it with your child so he/she receives consistent reinforcement of unacceptable behaviors without the damage to self-esteem. Best of all it's easy to learn and implement with the whole family, babysitters too.
Rating:
Summary: I wish I had read this book months ago!
Review: We had tried everything to try and show our 3 year old son who is in charge. We could'nt go to restaurants (or almost and public place for that matter) without it ending in a meltdown and being bitten, pinched and hit by our son. Even at home if he didn't get his way he would bite/hit/pinch/scream. We agreed not to spank, but found ourselves yelling often. Many days I ended up in tears. My son's preschool teacher recommeded this book. I stayed up almost all night one night reading it, and put it into action. It has changed everything! Not only does the counting method really work (I had sort of used my own counting before, but I wasn't following the "no talking no emotions" rule), but we just feel more in charge and in control, which our son seems to sense and respond to. He is much better behaved all the way around, but if he does have a meltdown it is gone right after "that's two". I can't believe what a difference this has made in my house!
Rating:
Summary: Too much punishing too little talking
Review: I feel that it's the wrong message to give children that they can't be listened to, even in moments of high emotion. A good parent will listen to her child's message even when the child is too upset to deliver that message calmly. It's the parents place to help the child deal with his emtions while gently guilding him to succeed within the boundaries the parent has set. It's also unbelievable that the author would even suggest that hitting a child is appropriate. While that may be his way of not alienating people who chose to hit their children, a true child advocate would have had the courage to state quite clearly that violence against children in unacceptable. It's also incredible that anybody would suggest locking a child in his room. That is boardering on abuse. For those who want good solutions to discipline challenges, any book by Jane Nelsen is very good. I also like Barbara Coloroso's Kids Are Worth It. And for the older child How To Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber and Eloaine Mazlish is wonderful. Please try and remember that we are talking about teaching human beings to be adults. We're not talking about training animals.
Rating: 
Summary: Only good if you want the child to stop a behavior
Review: I was overall disappointed in this book which was ranked so highly. I found his approach simple and only a variation for what we already used in our home. Some of the authors "Good" examples of the 1-2-3 Magic approach would be unacceptable in my home because the child used backtalk between 1,2,and sometimes after the discipline was imposed.(3). The author also indicated that the use of 1-2-3 Magic was only a stop behavior (i.e. stop nagging) and gave only brief outlines of how to get a child to start an action (i.e. clean room, put away toys, start homework). I think this book is useful for the parent who has let thingstrfh get totally out of control and anything is better then what they currently live with.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Advice
Review: I feel this book made a huge difference in our lives. We rarely yell, or even get mad anymore. In fact that's one of the best aspects, that it let us know that we don't *have* to get mad. The kiddo is much better behaved. I would also like to respond to the reader that quoted Phelan's statement "there may be a time when spanking is appropriate." That was taken very out of context, and the point the author was trying to make was missed. He very clearly counsels against spanking, and feels there are better ways of handling discipline. He was only referring to the parents who insist that spanking is something they intend to use. His other quote on the topic of spanking was that "95% of the time, spanking is a parental temper tantrum." He also DOES counsel talking to kids, just not while they are being punished. We gave a copy of the book to my stepson's day care--it was *that* effective.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Parenting Book I've Read
Review: This book was referred to me by a therapist as a tool to use for my five year old son who was exceedlingly frustrated and prone to "meltdowns". The methods espoused by Dr. Phelan are so simple and yet so completely effective! They are also very humane. I highly recommend this book to every parent who wants to restore peace in the home.
Rating:
Summary: Too simple to be true
Review: ...but it is! I was so skeptical when I realized what the author was proposing. I don't think that any of us wants to admit that all of the struggling, talking, yelling, and then guilt while disciplining our children has not worked, and that the simple act of counting to three has. Not only did these prior methods not work, but they gave our 2 and 3 year old daughters a lot of practice in manipulating us and knowing what pushes our buttons. I love the "no talking, no emotions" rule, because as we've found out on too many occaxions, trying to rationalize with children does only lead you into arguing, then yelling, and eventually spanking your children. 1-2-3 Magic is truly a no-nonsense method of putting you in charge and defining your role as a disciplinarian.
Rating:
Summary: Very helpful.
Review: We went from "impossible behavior" and "total tantrums" with our 5 and 3 year old children to both kids halting the undesired behavior after the count of "2". It only took a week and a half. We still have work to do, but this book was so easy to read, understand and implement! I would recommend this book to anyone desiring to stop the unruly behavior and get some skills under their belt that WORK.
Rating: 
Summary: I'm sure I'm in the minority here
Review: Here's what I didn't like about the book. He calls children "wild animals," says parents biggest mistakes are "too much talking and too much emotion," he recommends "putting a lock on the door" of a child's room, and says "there may be a time when a 'spanking' is appropriate." I don't believe there is ever any justification for striking a child. The author seems to think of children as inherently bad. I believe this book is good for parents who only have the time for the "quick fix" but as I'm a SAHM and believe in treating my child with dignity and respect, I'll give this a miss. Barbara Coloroso's "Kids Are Worth It" is much more my cup of tea.
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