Jerry Wyckoff Ph.D. & Barbara C. Unell
Discipline Without Shouting or Spanking:
Practical Solutions to the Most Common Preschool Behavior Problems

This useful book breaks down more than 25 'features' of your young child's life into five areas of analysis. First, a description of the problem is given. These problems include temper tantrums, whining, negativity, sibling rivalry, aggressive behavior, resisting bedtime, playing with food, not eating, talking back, and many more. Next, preventative steps to avoid the problem are listed and discussed. Third (and along with the prevention ideas is the most helpful IMO), is the section on practical solutions to the behavior. The fourth section includes additional important information about what not to do (which unfortunately tends to be the instinctual reaction). Finally, each section contains a real-life scenario to show how parents have successfully handled the problem.

The overall theme or thread that unites the vast majority of the solutions and pre-emptive strikes is that patience and cool-headedness is incredibly important to raising good kids. Ignoring the problem(s) or providing less attention certainly isn't part of a successful resolution.

The organization is very nice as you need not read the entire book to find out a solution to the difficulty at hand. It is like having a handy cheat sheet nearby when the tests arise.

Unfortunately, kids aren't born with an owner's manual but this is the next best thing. It makes a great gift to parents on a child's first birthday.

from the publisher:
"I just don't know WHAT ELSE to do!" If you've ever said these words, and found yourself using either yelling or physical punishment on your toddler or preschooler, because you think you've tried everything else, this book is for you. Practical, straightforward advice to dealing with and short-circuiting the most common behavioral problems.

"A remarkable book! Not only does it give practical suggestions for solving every imaginable discipline problem, but it teaches you how to prevent problems before they occur. I only wish it had been available when I was raising my family." -- SueEllen Fried, Past President of the National Committee for the Prevention of Child Abuse