Reviews

1-2-3 Magic Teen: Communicate, Connect, and Guide Your Teen to Adulthood by Thomas W. Phelan

jemicu's review against another edition

5.0

Exactly what I needed to read to prepare for the teenage years with my three. Extremely insightful.

de_sg's review against another edition

4.0

I really appreciated the tips in this book. I didn't always agree with the implementation, but with some minor adjustments, I feel confident we can make it work within q gentle parent philosophy.

What I disagreed with the most was the lack of emphasis on exploration and discussion of emotions and experiences - especially after the incident/situation has been resolved. I also didn't agree with the stance that a lot of negative child behaviors are based around manipulation. That fact that childhood manipulation is learned from parental modeling was not discussed, though I understand it would have been outside the scope of the book.

We have started implementing 1.2.3 magic with stop behaviors with the approach that it is a check and balance for big emotions. We even gave our son the authority to use it on us when we get carried away (to emphasize that everyone has big emotions). This also gives us the outside check that we are acting on an emotion that can cause consequences for ourself and others. The consequence of getting to 3 is the removal of break from the thing that is giving us a big emotion. This has worked VERY WELL so far!

katieinca's review against another edition

3.0

Kind of a one trick pony, but a useful tool to have in the toolbox.

kaceyp14's review against another edition

5.0

This is the #1 discipline book at my house. It teaches to discipline without emotion and uses a simple counting method. Alyse does fabulously with it, and Jackson is starting to learn the system. I couldn't live w/out this method!

emerygirl's review against another edition

3.0

I want a magical book that will make my kids behave better.  Doe that exist?  This book was good...but it doesn't work as perfectly for me as it does for the people in the book.  

sjruskin's review against another edition

5.0

I listened to this one on CD and it was very entertaining while educational. It does work! I have been using it for about 3 days now and my children's behavoir is better. It works better with my five-year-old than the three-year-old, but I guess that is to be expected. The best part of the discipline is that it is easy and simple. I would recommend this to any parent struggling with discipline problems and just needing to know that they aren't the only one out there.

michelleloretta's review against another edition

5.0

I gave this 5 stars because I think it is incredible helpful with the difficult 2-4 years (in my case it has been the "4 year old" year) - even tho the writing is hokey. 1-2-3 Magic is not rocket science. You'll read it and think "duh - obvious". But, when you put it into practice it really is magical. I wish I had read this 2 years ago... instead of a lot of other junk that didn't really work long-term or wasn't a realistic way of disciplining a child.

heyallimarie's review against another edition

3.0

Our pediatrician recommended this book for help dealing with our toddlers tantrums. At 21 months, some of the tips aren’t quite appropriate, but we’ve already started counting to stop obnoxious behavior and it seems to be working! Would recommend to other parents of tantrum-throwing toddlers. Three and a half stars.

arfox2's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

4.0

Quick read. Interesting parenting perspectives. 

90sinmyheart's review against another edition

3.0

Recommended by someone I trust. Grudgingly admit it's working.