Parenting Books - Omaha,NE

My two favorite parenting books are "12 Simple Secrets Real Moms Know: Getting Back To Basics And Raising Happy Kids" by Michele Borba and "The Secret of Parenting: How to Be in Charge of Today's Kids -from Toddlers to Preteens- Without Threats or Punishment" by Anthony E. Wolf.

The first book is easy to go through and you can choose which of the 12 secrets you want to do in any order. She uses lots of stories from real mothers that help relate to each secret and make it easier to remember. The book is divided into two parts. First part is titled- "How can a real mom give her children love that lasts for always?" The second part tells us the secrets.

The second book reads very quickly and will most definitely make you laugh at some point. It has helped so much with stopping all those nasty little things that can sometimes come out of children's mouths: "I hate you!", "You're mean.", "Why do I have to...?", all the whining and backtalk that comes as they get older and try to seriously challenge you, etc.

I also like the website by Sharon Silver. She has a book as well, but the articles on her website are really great little gems of parenting advice. I haven't read her book yet. http://proactiveparenting.net/

I really like "The Science of Parenting" by Margo Sunderland for this age. Big thinky title, but an easy read; it focuses on the child's neurological development and how our responses to their emotions can help shape a child who is more resilient and emotionally connected as an adult. This book offers good information and good ideas which can be easily implemented, and what's more, it helps us as adults understand how a child's mind works and why they have the strong responses they do have.

I've shared this book with several friends, who all say they've found it helpful. I will warn that it's easy to let too much go, discipline-wise, if you already tend toward a more permissive parenting style; this book shouldn't be a 'reason' not to use gentle guidance and make clear boundaries to give our children a sense of security and consistency. (I know one person who certainly interpreted it this way.) I use a more authoritative approach myself; this book just explains the *why* around the tantrums and gives some tips for diffusing them before they escalate.

Love... "How to Talk So Your Kids Will Listen and Listen So Your Kids Will Talk". And "Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child". "Playful Parenting" is an easy read and has some good info.

I am not a fan of Love and Logic. Although it has some good points, something about it rubs me the wrong way, and I think that it's pretty poorly written.

Good luck!

Dr. Sears. Go to the library and check them (him) out, no need to spend $ and you will get lots of great and HELPFUL advice.

I enjoyed "The Happiest Toddler on the Block".

I am a fan of Love and Logic by Foster Cline. They have a book, Love and Logic for Toddlers, which I haven't read, yet, but I intend to. I, too, love Elaine Mazlish and Adelle Faber's book, How To Talk So Kids Will Listen, etc. They, too, have a book aimed at Toddlers and another one for the whole family. I have only skimmed thru 1-2-3 Magic but I do recommend it. Jane Nelson has written several helpful books. I can't think of their titles right now.

Love and Logic. It's an excellent book.

"Overindulgence..." by Jean Illsley Clarke and "No..." by Dr. David Walsh. I don't have them right in front of me for their complete titles, and they are not as severe as the (shortened) titles might suggest. EXCELLENT day-to-day examples of the effects of permissive parenting styles and very helpful suggestions on how to handle situations. They did quite a bit of research on their topics and demonstrate how indulging your children (and any of the three ways) can be hurtful to them, long-term. Easy, very helpful reads.

Love and Logic, awesome. loveandlogic.com. You can contact them about facilitators in your area that give classes. Some classes are reasonable or even free, and they're great. This parenting style also teaches decision-making and natural consequences in an ongoing way. It's a bit more work than autocratic "Because I said so" parenting, but it give the kid more skills re. living life and making choices.

Happiest Toddler on the Block by Dr H Karp
1-2-3 Magic

Back to Basics Discipline by Janet Campbell Matson. I employed the philosophy and techniques with all three of my very different (including one extremely difficult and rageful child) and they are all awesomely happy, confident, loving, independent and well behaved (even the ex-terror who is now a wonderful three) at ages 6, 5 and 3.

I have witnessed some really terribly ill-behaved kids with the "Love and Logic" style (but some easy kids do OK with it-still not great though-depends on your standards)-it seems more to make the parents feel good about being positive even if the kids keep running amok-most of my friends used it and I do NOT envy their kid's behavior-mine have more independence and freedom now because they had firmer guidelines earlier. For instance, because mine had to behave "because I said so" (within a loving fun home), they are advanced in music and language lessons, whereas their peers weren't "made to do those classes" because they couldn't behave etc. How to Talk So Kids Will Listen book is great -for OLDER kids who have HAD a good foundation, but it's totally lost on 2 1/2 year olds. Just my opinion-and I'm assuming you are already extremely loving and caring in general and you're only needing help with the discipline angle of things. At this age, keep it SIMPLE AND CLEAR and save the uber-positivity and choice-giving for when your OLDER child (4 and up) hasn't built a million negative hard-to-break habits.

Another vote for Love and Logic and the "How to talk so your kids will listen" series by Faber and Mazlish.