There are a couple things about supernanny techniques that worry me. I think Mr. Kohn makes some valid points... see
http://www.alfiekohn.org/parenting/supernanny.htm http://teachers.net/gazette/JUN08/kohn/While I admit Koln' s book, "Unconditional Parenting" is very wisy washy in the sense that it lacks hard advice on how to deal with a toddler. I believe in what Glenn Doman had said "you cant force a two year old to do anything they dont want to do"
If you teach your child, which is our job as parents, about cause and effects of their behaviour and keep setting the proper example then eventually they will come around. We have always received compliments on how gentle my 2 year old is with others... both older and younger, and how well he shares. I think it is because we share with him, and are gentle with him...
Mind you we all have our days. To which I recall a story when my husband slapped my sons had because he was frustrated with my son... we noticed for 3 weeks then my son hit out of frustration when things didnt go his way... My husband and I vowed to try each day to be more patient, and to explain the actions. Self control is very hard to do. I believe though if you ever hit a child then you as a parent have failed, and the child won.
I also think timeouts are overused today... especially in North America.
The books are as follows:
Suzuki, Shinichi. Ability Development from Age Zero
Nurtured By Love
http://suzukiassociation.org/parents/bibliography/I highly recommend these books to all parents... whenever some things get very difficult I tend to go back to these books and try to model myself into being a better person and hence being a better parent.
Timeouts, corporal punishments I believe in my heart are the easy way out.... we need to take time with our children... and yes I have given my son a time out, when I have done so its because I need a minute to think or calm down to respond.
I like the idea of tickling... sometimes a little laughter is all we need to ease a situation up... and I am sure his poking response is do to a little curiosity, timed with a little agrevation at times, and sometimes because he doesnt have control of all his emotions yet because hes two.
We will give it a shot.
Digg
