THE DISCIPLINE BOOK: HOW TO HAVE A BETTER-BEHAVED CHILD FROM BIRTH TO AGE TEN, by husband/wife team William and Martha Sears, is promoted as a complete guide to raising content and well-adjusted children..
First published in February 1995, the 328-page book covers a multitude of topics: from self-esteem to single-parenting, and from day care issues to divorce. The authors focus on prevention of problematic behavior from the very beginning of a child’s life. They cover such issues as baby and toddler discipline, helping children express their feelings, appropriate anger expressions, mother/father parenting roles, sibling rivalry, setting limits, breaking annoying habits, eliminating whining and sassing, nutrition’s role in behavioral issues, and more.
William and Martha Sears have long been advocates of proper nutrition as a contributor to positive behavior, teaching children moral values, and choosing alternatives to spanking. They are strong proponents of attachment parenting, maintaining that a solid parent/child relationship will prevent the bulk of bad behavioral habits from ever developing. The authors contend that a strong sense of bonding will minimize and alleviate discipline problems. This approach may work in many families. However, parents with particularly challenging or strong-willed children may need more pro-active tactics that this book offers.
In addition, the authors have consistently promoted the idea of a family bed, where children may sleep with their parents. This can be a controversial topic, among parenting authorities.
Overall, THE DISCIPLINE BOOK does offer consistent practical advice that will be useful to most parents, although those who are raising children with significant disciplinary issues or special needs may not find sufficient help in this popular-level resource.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
William Sears, MD, is one of the most well-known pediatricians in the United States. Dr. Sears teaches pediatrics at the University of Southern California School of Medicine. Martha Sears, RN, is a nurse, childbirth educator, and breastfeeding consultant. Together they have raised eight children and written 14 parenting books, including THE BABY BOOK, THE BIRTH BOOK, THE FUSSY BABY, and THE A.D.D. BOOK.
THE DISCIPLINE BOOK is widely available in paperback for a retail price of $14.99 (US).