1-2-3 Magic: Effective Discipline for Children 2-12 (123 Magic) author: Thomas W. Phelan rating: asin: 1889140163 binding: Paperback list price: $14.95 USD amazon price: $10.17 USD

On Lisa’s blog, Emilyrhp left the following comment:

A book recommended to me by a friend has helped A TON in the past 2 months. It's called 1-2-3-Magic. It's for 2-12 year olds. I wish we had found this sooner, because it's a method that my husband and I can agree on (I honestly think that's the real key). He doesn't feel mean, it's very simple, and it has worked! - Emilyrhp at Are You Finding It Difficult To Discipline Your Adopted Toddler?

I second this opinion.

When my son was around two years old, I had already tried a variety of disciplinary tactics with limited success. Then, a friend loaned me the book “1-2-3 Magic,” and I finally had an effective way to curb my son’s behaviors.

The concept is really quite simple. When you ask the child to stop doing something and he does not, you say, “That’s one.” If you have to repeat yourself, you say, “That’s two.” When you get to three, the child has a time out or other consequence.

People used to be amused watching my son because I would say, “That’s one,” and he would keep going. I would say, “That’s two,” and it looked like an invisible hook pulled him the other direction. It really was quite comical.

The key is keeping calm because many kids, like my own, love to push their parents’ buttons. By calmly counting, the child has ample warning that a consequence is coming and has the opportunity to change his behavior.

My son is now seven, and I still use the tools I learned in “1-2-3 Magic.”