The Bottom Line
From its parent-friendly language and easy-to-read format to its endless practical advice and tips, this book is a "must read" for new and experienced parents alike. The book delivers a wealth of practical, realistic and non-judgmental parenting advice for dealing with inevitable tantrums and public meltdowns. Simple and straightforward facts, alerts, essentials and questions are sprinkled throughout, and contents are a timeless resource guide for different stages of a child's development.
Pros
- Helps parents to understand their child's temperament and emotional "triggers"
- Provides practical and effective methods for calming an out-of-control child
- Offers suggestions for dealing with dreaded public temper tantrums or meltdowns
- Filled with great tips and advice for raising a well-adjusted child
- Helps parents to realize that they are not alone with emotional battles with their children
Cons
- None: the book promises a better-informed and more empathetic parent
Description
- Very parent-friendly and easy-to-read and understand
- Chapters are well organized and defined by developmental stages and different types of tantrums
- General tips, quick advice, straightforward facts, essential reading, and questions answered abound
- Understanding tantrums is sorted by toddler, preschool and school-age developmental levels
- Tantrum triggers are discussed and influences shared for parents to consider as contributors
- Different types of tantrums are defined with solutions for positively ending the associated behavior
- Parenting styles are defined, and adults asked to consider how behaviors can affect kids
Guide Review - Book Review: Everything Parent's Guide To Tantrums
I liked the book from the moment I picked it up and started reading it, and not because I think highly of its author and frequent About.com forum contributor, Joni Levine. The book literally overflows with helpful advice, tips, suggestions and facts that are presented in such a way to be reassuring to parents when kids exhibit excruciatingly bad behavior. The message in the book is that all kids at some point will have a temper tantrum or meltdown, but that parents are empowered to maintain control and to calm the kids and themselves in the process. I especially liked the section about "Temper Tantrum Myths," that helps parents to think through some misconceptions and widely propagated myths (i.e. that all temper tantrums are for manipulation or that there is nothing you can do about your child's tantrums). I also admire the author's ability to put parents at ease about the behavior, and emphasis that there is never a one-size-fits-all approach to parenting and strategies for coping. Instead, Levine urges parents to discover what techniques work best for their child and their comfort, and to use what works...and then to be flexible as a child grows and changes. The book also serves to educate parents about the three basic temperaments of a child and the associated traits while encouraging positive communication and discovering what "sets off" kids and when. I learned a great amount about parenting strategies and have already put them into use with my own kids.
