Spirited Child Book

I agree with the others. Skim through a few books at the library. Some philosophies are not my cup of tea and you might find the same thing.

Raising Your Spirited Child by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka

Unlike that idiot James Dobson, who takes the position that it's your job to break the child's will and then remold it to your own, Kurcinka gives examples of ways to positively channel a child's strong will while keeping it intact, as it will serve him well as an adult.

Well whats your parenting style? Are you religious or not? There are a million and one options:) we like Dr. Dobson's Dare to Discipline & Bringing up Girls(we have 2 daughters). Also love 1,2,3 Magic Effective Discipline for Children 2-12 by Thomas W. Phelan, Ph.D. Also took twice a parenting class & cannot say enough great things about Judy Rossi'e Raising Responsive Children: http://www.eymministries.org/ss/live/index.php But we are also religious.
Good Luck,
Pammy

J. I found that Raising Your Spirited Child by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka was a total game changer for me. It completely transformed how I saw my very difficult oldest son. It's been 12 years since I bought it and I still refer back to it every now and again.

Also there is an excellent book called the Kadzin Method for Defiant Children (or something like that) and really, it's just a very, very good book for general discipline techniquest. It's not just for "defiant" children. I wish that I had this book when my oldest was younger.

I have read and gotten a lot out of both "The Out-of-Sync Child" and "Raising Your Spirited Child". Do a trial read by checking them out of your local library first.

Do you have a library?

Try also the Out of Sync Child. I found it extreemly helpful.

Also, have your child tested. In my community they test them and see if they notice an issue and if they do there are services that can help. Ealy intervention is helpful in the long run.

go to your librarian and ask for recommendations.
khairete
S.

Back to Basics Discipline by Janet Campbell Matson. I have three well-behaved non-tantrumming kids all with different personalities including one born terror who is now mature and self-restrained at three. It works. I'm a single parent and take all three kids everywhere with me.

I second Kurcinka's book. Good luck!

The Mary Kurcinka book also has an associated workbook. She also wrote a book about power struggles that I found very enlightening. I have just started reading a book called "The Explosive Child" that I'm finding very useful, although I'm only a few chapters into it. Although it sounds like a book that might be for really serious behavior problems based on the title, that's not what I'm finding. It's for kids who are more easily frustrated than most and covers a wide range of behaviors. I will say it seems to be more for school age children. You could also check that one out and see what you think. It's an easy read. Another book I found useful years ago and have been meaning to re-read is "How to talk so your kids will listen and how to listen so your kids will talk." Good luck.