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Summary: Happy mother again with Happy well behaved kids!
Review: When I bought this book I was feeling desperate. The Sal Severe method of child rearing is a step by step easy to follow method. Just by reading one chapter at a time I was able to implement his suggestions immediately and see results. I have a 9,7,and 4 year old and I can use his method of decision making and positive reinforcement on each childs developmental level without a doctorate in child psychology. It is reality parenting that you can feel good about and it really motivates the kids. I am not yelling anymore. Thank you Sal Severe!
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Summary: Best Family Book-EVER! This Book Should COME w/ the Child!
Review: This book is very practical for the "every day" parent. Not only does the child's behavior improve, but the parent's as well! (First hand experience speaking here!)First and foremost, this book is written at the average parent level of understanding. Second, after reading just the author's forward, instead of feeling like you've got to change because you're such a BAD parent, you feel FREEDOM to become a BETTER PARENT! Third, the ideas in the book are GREAT and you come away with an understanding that you should keep doing the things you are already doing that work well, but have easy-to-use tips to tweek your parenting skills into getting better behavior out of your child and yourself. In the final analysis, our family life was positively enriched by this book, even if all it did was to help we, the parents, understand the motivations of our children to PUSH OUR BUTTONS! We've already bought two more copies as new baby gifts for relatives!
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best Parenting Books!
Review: Great book! One of the best I've read. My kids range from 23 down to 3 so I have read a few. This book will provide most with a perspective that will help them view their child's behavior in ways that makes it easy to correct negative and reinforce the positive. My only complaint about this book is that the chapter on divorce is lean and a bit short sited. Another must read parenting book would be Money Doesn't Grow on Trees by Neale Godfrey. If you follow the advice in both of these books you will raise responsible, great kids.
Rating: 
Summary: Some good advice, some questionable
Review: This book is well organised, concise, and easy to read. Many different parenting techniques are explained with the emphasis on consistency. There is little direction in prioritising problem behaviours and which techniques to apply. This could lead to a parent being inconsistent trying different approaches for behaviours which are only symptoms of other problems. Also I found there was way too much emphasis on punishment and rewards for correcting misbehaviour. Time-outs are explained in length and great detail but they are described as a punishment. The author suggests delayed time-outs at a more convenient time which defeat the purpose of a time-out. No wonder so many people say time-outs don't work. The book "Setting Limits" explains how to use effective time-outs which are non-punitive. I disagreed with the use of excessive praise and rewards to elicit cooperation and to increase self esteem. The book "The Manipulative Child" is very authorative on how to establish healthy self esteem.
There was a good chapter on spanking and why it is not recommended or necessary for effective discipline. Overall though there was much good information which a parent can use. I still prefer the book "Ain't Misbehavin" by William P Garvey as a basic parenting and discipline book.
Rating:
Summary: Very readable and full of common sense
Review: This is a great book that is packed with practical tips you can apply to your own life. The author also comes across as someone you can relate to -- a committed parent who sometimes makes mistakes with his own kids. I love the author's writing style and sense of humor. I wish I could give this 5+ stars because it's a truly terrific book. Sal Severe joins the ranks of my favorite parenting authors!
Rating:
Summary: Look to Yourself
Review: There are portions of this book that I do not subscribe to, but in whole it made me look at myself, my expectations, and lack of patience and resulting control. The stories contained illustrated the power struggles I was breeding. My ulitmate methods vary somewhat from the book, but we are definitely living in a more positive family situation.
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Summary: Common Sense Strikes Again!
Review: I bought this book in a desperate attempt to solve some issues with our three year old. I read this book in 2 days and found myself saying "Why didn't I think of that?" over and over again. His approach is more common sense than anything. I LOVED this book and will refer to it for many years to come as I also have a 1 year old!
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Summary: Wretched - Just An Elaborate Bribery System
Review: I bought this book hoping for some insight on dealing with our three year old and her normal "three year old misbehavior". I really enjoyed the first couple of chapters and I definitely support the idea that parents should "be" what they want their children to "become". I liked his admonition to focus on the positive behavior and not the negative. I also gleaned some other good advice here and there throughout the book. However, once I got into the book, it became obvious that his "method" is based heavily on an elaborate bribery system [including numerous detailed tables of rewards for different age groups]. There is actually a chapter called "Never Give Away The Ice Cream" in which the author chastizes a family for taking their children out for ice cream. He says that *nothing* should ever be given to children unless it is tied to their behavior as an award. Forget unconditional love; quality family time for the sake of family time; or teaching children to do the right thing BECAUSE it is the right thing - this method is a sure fire way to teach your kids that nothing is worth doing unless they are being PAID to do it. In my opinion, following the advice in this book is a great way to raise superficial, materialistic, self-serving brats who are guided not by their conscience, but by an external reward system.
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Summary: This book has saved my life!
Review: In all honesty before I got this book I was a depressed and irritable parent. I did not look forward to waking up in the morning and did not enjoy being a mother. I bought this book 5 days ago and I read it in 2 days. I am please to announce that I have not raised my voice or yelled at my two children (1 preschooler, 1 toddler) since I read this book! I have already started implementing the techniques that Severe talks of and they WORK. They work because my dedicated determination of following the book to the exact letter. I am determined to have a positive climate family and it is working because my tone of voice is mature and happy. When I discipline I speak in direct tone and not yelling at all. I don't get angry anymore! My kids are LISTENING and they are SHARING and they are NOT fighting! They are being sweet adorable little boys now and I have Sal Severe to thank for it. What a wonderful book! I think hospitals should give this book out when you are discharged with your first born for the first time! Simply NEEDED for EVERY family! What a difference! I LOVE BEING a MOMMY NOW! :) :) :)
Rating:
Summary: This book is rated "G" for GREAT RESULTS
Review: If you are a parent with a child anywhere between the ages of birth to teenager, this is the book for you!! If you are like most parents you know that it can be stressful to deal with misbehavior. After reading this book Dr. Severe gives you humorus stories and easy ways to keep tempers in check and stress levels in the basement when your children misbehave. He enlightens you on the root causes of misbehavior and clearly defines terms that we sometimes get confused i.e. mischief vs. misbehavior and how to deal with each one differently. After reading the book, I wanted more so I bought the video which is equally as good and easy to watch when you need a refresher.
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