Effective Discipline: A Delicate Balance

By Bonnie J. Fite

How to discipline your children the common sense way. Down-to-earth and applying a delicate balance in the establishment of reasonable rules. Teaches us to maximize the trainable years, minimize... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0882707388
• ISBN13: 9780882707389
• Release Date: January 1997
• Publisher: Bridge Logos Fndtn
• Length: 200 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.8" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

Effective Parenting...

Those of us lucky enough to have sat in the laps of our grandparents are familiar with the phrase, "I remember back in my time. . ." No doubt they were comparing how something is done today with the way it was done when they were growing up. Today's parenting is certainly one of those moments which would cause them to reminisce for those "better" days. Perhaps it was current parenting trends that was the impetus for the penning of EFFECTIVE DISCIPLINE. Written in 1997 by Bonnie Fite, many may believe the book to be dated. However, the principles therein are timeless. The author explains that the key to raising children effectively is mastering the art of balance. She explains too much of a focus on correction is just as bad as equipping children with rights that they are incapable of handling. The key is to understand that adults are to teach, lead and model appropriate behaviors. Properly align misbehavior with the appropriate consequence. If both of those are done correctly and consistently, what should result is an adult who is fully capable of handling all the rights and privileges adulthood has to offer. The author provides age-appropriate behaviors and expectations. She even outlines some techniques when dealing with "problem" or labeled children. The author leaves us with the idea that children should enjoy being children while adults should maximize the childhood years to shape and mold well-adjusted and productive adults. EFFECTIVE DISCIPLINE offers sound, practical, common-sense steps in how to approach childrearing. The book is an easy read with step-by-step procedures. It is a recommended must read for anyone who works with children in any capacity. Reviewed by Melanee for The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Filled with examples of how to employ balanced discipline

As a parent of 2 boys aged 2 and 4 I found this book to be particularly helpful because of the specific examples. Others may list theories but the examples are what I needed. For example, setting clear expectations. For my toddlers it was often hard for them to decide what they wanted to do, eventually my patience ran out. Ms. Fite explains how to stop playing those games. I found that in a short period of time, it worked. The rules for the home were helpful to me, too. It is nice to have a home where children only eat in the kitchen thanks to the advice in the book. In fact, when they go to stores and see tiled floors they ask if it is the kitchen and can they eat there. The benefit to me is a living room without spills or drips on the carpet or furniture. The chapter on Levels of Offense helped me to differentiate between serious offenses and the ones that are not so serious but can still ruin your day. By differentiating I can better dole out discipline, setting expectations for future behavior. Anyone would enjoy reading this, even if you are childless but have nieces and nephews visiting. It is an easy read with practical steps anyone can employ.