The Happiest Toddler on the Block

[curious]

Full book title: The Happiest Toddler on the Block : The New Way to Stop the Daily Battle of Wills and Raise a Secure and Well-Behaved One- to Four-Year-Old



Delightful, insightful and doable tips that really work for toddlers. Just when we thought we would need a counselor for our marriage because hubby and I could not agree on parenting styles or consequences, we found this book. YOU HAVE TO TRY IT for the sake of your sanity, kids and marriage. Two others that have helped in our family are: Raising Resilient Children by Robert Brooks and Mommy CEO, which is a parenting/family book, by Jodie Lynn. We love all three books and so will you.

[soccermom]

This book is not what it appears. The doctor who wrote it seems to be using what he hopes you will find is a "mildly amusing" analogy between various stages of toddlers and various stages of neanderthals. The doctor uses quotes about evolution and man being derived from "fishy things". I bought this book for my daughter-in-law after it was recommended on Dr. Phil. What I read was appalling and I am glad that I decided to read a few chapters to understand more about it before I gave it to her. Obviously the doctor counts on you trusting him just because he is a doctor and uses his first few chapters to hope that you will think the analogy is "cute" and ignore his subversive attempts to make you think the theories of Darwin and evolution must be "okay". This type of writing totally detracts from his actual techniques to help parents and toddlers. It was unnecessary and offensive; I returned both the book and the dvd and also returned two others books and dvds by the same author. The book seemed to indicate it would use a mild anology between cavemen and toddlers on its dust jacket but no where did it indicate it would use direct Darwin/evolution principles. It would be one thing if the book plainly touted evolutionary theories on its cover/dust jacket but it was not sold that way and therefore is deceptive.

[Melos]

Many people agree with evolution, which is perfectly okay. Many people don't, which is also okay. In my opinion - books do not need warning labels telling everything that is inside them lest someone be offended.
I have to admit that the toddler to caveman analogy is bugging me though. Doesn't make much sense and its rather offensive - but I have not read the book either (don't plan to)

[GoDaddy]

I think this is a pretty good book. It is not a magic formula but you have to try lots of different methods. Of course the kids are always changing so that makes it tough as well.

[Danielle]

Personally, I find that the most helpful advice is found right on boards like this one. I read this author's other book (The Happiest Baby on the Block) and found it to be very unhelpful.