Toddler and Pre-school "Discipline"

I have so many books about teaching a discipline in early childhood. I suppose it is partly because I am an "input junky." According to Gallup StrengthsFinder, one of my top strengths is "input." I like to input and collect information, in my case, as does my husband! Interesting combination of strengths, we have. I think also I collect this information because I never had much contact with kids under the age of five, and my degree and certification was in K-12 education... which leaves the under five group still somewhat mysterious. Sure, we learn about milestones and development in early childhood, but not teaching methods and discipline methods. In fact, we actually had NO CLASSES at University of Nebraska at Omaha about classroom management or discipline. I realize that might be an upper-level course, or hard to teach, and that you have to learn it through experience, but I still think a course or two to get you started might be helpful. Especially when there is so much literature out there! How do you know what to trust? Even moreso when it comes to early childhood.

Cry-it-out. Ferber. The Baby Whisperer. Scheduled naps and feeding. Let the baby set the schedule. Breastfeed. Bottle feed. Reverse psychology. Direct commands. Turn it into a game. Time outs. No time outs. Ignore bad behavior. Make it a competition. Remove privileges. There is a plethora of ways and methods to discipline your child, from birth until they leave the house, and beyond.

I have read parts of many books, and a few entire books. Typically, I don't completely agree with any one method. Many sites that I follow say the way to sort through the books and methods is to find one that you mostly agree with, and then follow it to a "t". I disagree. Learn many methods, keep learning, keep asking other moms you trust, keep reading, and keep adjusting as you see fit. And listen to your gut instincts. If you trust these, I truly believe they are what will lead you in the direction you will feel is correct in the long run. However, here are some of the books that I have read on early childhood child-rearing.

Playful Parenting by Lawrence J. Cohen, PH.D: This is a great book. I mean, it really is. And I actually know of a parent from my daughter's preschool, who is also an elementary teacher, who thinks so as well.


The Five Love Languages for Children by Chapman & Campbell: actually best for kids OVER the age of five, but something great to be aware of and to help your thought processes about people as a whole, if you haven't taken a look into it's predecessor, The Five Love Languages.

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 by Harvey Karp, M.D. (WOW, that's a long title! But definitely makes you want to take a look, doesn't it?) There is also "The Happiest Baby on the Block"

Child Sense (subtitled: From Birth to Age 5, How to Use the 5 Senses to Make Sleeping, Eating, Dressing, and Other Everyday Activities Easier While Strengthening Your Bond With Your Child)by Priscilla J. Dunstan. WHEW! Even longer title. But it kinda sums it all up, doesn't it?

Kidwrangling by Kaz Cooke: I just like this author... kind of too thick to actually read through, you utilize this as a reference guide. She's this chic Australian chick who wrote another book about marriage that I like,

Babywise by Ezzo and Bucknam (multiple books in this "series" so to speak)

I'd also like to include How Full is Your Bucket? Positive Strategies for Work and Life by Tom Rath and Donald O. Clifton, as well as the children's book version, How Full Is Your Bucket? For Kids There is also a book that I own called Have You Filled a Bucket Today? A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids by Carol McCloud. I'm not actually even sure these were supposed to be supplementary or even complimentary to each other, but I own both, and I'm surprised that neither mentions the other... so I'll look into that in a further post.

I think I will review one of these from time-to-time as I go through them, sometimes for a second or third time. That way, there will be a general synapsis and opinionated review of each separately, but also I don't have to do it all in one post! Which I like, and your eyes probably will appreciate, too.