The Gentle Discipline Book: How to raise co-operative, polite and helpful children

Description

Do you want to raise a well-behaved, happy child but feel that common forms of discipline used today, which focus on rewarding, excluding or punishing children, don't work for your family? In THE GENTLE DISCIPLINE BOOK, Sarah Ockwell-Smith debunks many commonly held beliefs about punishment and motivation, and provides an alternative approach that will empower you to discipline your child in an effective way and with respect. Gentle discipline is not about mollycoddling your child or being a pushover - it means understanding your child, having realistic expectations of them, and responding to their misbehaviour appropriately. It focuses on teaching and learning, not punishment or rewarding. In her trademark practical style, Sarah offers solutions for coping with the most common discipline challenges, including: - whining and sulking - aggressive and destructive behaviour - not listening and refusal to do things - rudeness and backchat - sibling rivalry - lying - swearing - low self-esteem and a lack of self-confidence The advice is appropriate to a wide range of ages, from toddler to teenager, and, if you have been using more traditional form of discipline, it will give you the tools - and the confidence - to change to a more mindful approach.

Sarah Ockwell-Smith is the mother of four children. She has a BSc in Psychology and worked for several years in Pharmaceutical Research and Development. Following the birth of her first child, Sarah re-trained as a Paediatric Homeopath, Antenatal Teacher and Birth and Postnatal Doula. She has also undertaken training in Baby Massage, Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy. Sarah specialises in gentle parenting methods and is co-founder of the GentleParenting website (www.gentleparenting.co.uk). Sarah writes a parenting blog (www.sarahockwell-smith.com) which is read by 3 million parents per year, and is the author of BabyCalm, ToddlerCalm, The Gentle Sleep Book, The Gentle Parenting Book, The Gentle Discipline Book, The Gentle Potty Training Book, The Gentle Eating Book, The Second Baby Book, The Starting School Book Between: A guide for parents of eight to thirteen-year-olds, How to Be a Calm Parent and Beginnings. She frequently writes for magazines and newspapers, and is often called upon as a parenting expert for national television and radio.

What I value most about Sarah Ockwell-Smith's latest book is that it honours the struggles of both children and parents. She helps us see how understanding both sets of needs yields resolution and connection, which are not words we usually associate with discipline! Readers are treated not only to fascinating new discoveries about how children's brains and behaviour relate but also to the "ah-ha" moments that parents most wish for during times of conflict with their children In The Gentle Discipline Book, Sarah Ockwell-Smith challenges us as parents to pause, take a step back and understand why children behave the way they do, so that we can make respectful and effective parenting choices. Our society tends to view gentle discipline as taking a passive approach but Sarah explains clearly, using science-backed examples, why that simply isn't the case - gentle discipline is the kind and logical way to guide our children as they develop and change emotionally and mentally. And it prevents us from turning our homes into battlegrounds. The guidance is applicable for parents with children of all ages, and Sarah eloquently takes a complex subject and makes it accessible and easily understood. Her no- nonsense yet gentle approach is refreshing and empowering to parents, encouraging us to view our children as individuals and to be responsive to their needs, rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach to discipline. Sarah also tackles related issues, such as dealing with criticism from friends and family, and offers real-life wisdom on how to deal with judgement, whether real or perceived. She also dedicates a chapter to parents, highlighting why dealing with our own demons - and the subconscious triggers we all have - is one of the most important aspects of charting our parenting course. Congratulations Sarah, this is a comprehensive, pragmatic and common-sense approach to redefining what it means to discipline our children. Children all over the world will be thanking you! As a sleep-deprived first-time mum, surrounded by a pile of books that were in complete conflict with my parenting instincts, my life was changed when I discovered Sarah's gentle sleep techniques and advice.