Rating: 
Summary: Dreadfully anti-child, especially bad for special needs kids
Review: My stomach churned reading the first few chapters of this book, with its hostile, anti-child attitude. It assumes maliciousness on the part of children whose behavior the parents don't like, and assumes that the parents' needs and desires always, always are legitmate whereas the child's are not. To me, this is sheer arrogance. Sometimes we parents say "no" and on second thought, realize there's a compromise that honors our needs and wishes as well as that of our kids. Don't we want to train kids to think creatively about win/win solutions? Frankly, I think the overall attitude just sets you up for totally unnecessary power struggles.
This is an especially lousy parenting approach if your child has special needs. My child has sensory integration dysfunction. He is not being manipulative or defiant when he has to put on a new pair of shoes, he is genuinely freaked out by the change in routine and the unfamiliar sensation of the new shoes (tactile sensitivity). Were I to use the 1-2-3 magic method, I'd be locked in a continual power struggle with a child whose "quirks" stem from legitimate neurological problems, scolding and punishing him for things he cannot help. Spanking is not an option, ethically or even practically--he has an altered sense of pain.
Far, far better parenting books I recommend for children with special needs, or who are intense/spirited: Kids, Parents and Power Struggles by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka; Raising Your Spirited Child by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka; and The Explosive Child by Dr. Ross Greene.
The only positive thing I can say about this book is that it proposes counting as a form of transition. Transitions can be very helpful for a high-needs kid, but you don't need to count--you can just tell your child what's coming up or give him five minute warnings when you want him to do something or switch activities. Or use a picture To Do list to give him a sense of control over his world (knowing what's coming up). Spend your money on a better parenting guide.
Rating: 
Summary: So easy, yet it works
Review: This book is very straight forward and easy to use. It teaches you how to use consisitant discipline. It works miracles. It is in a very easy to read format. This book is a sanity saver. It has turned my life, and my childrens lives around.
Rating:
Summary: There Is No One Single Magic Trick For Effective
Review: Tom Phelan has indeed written a sensible, easy to read, discipline book that clearly explains his 1-2-3
Magic theory designed for parents of tots-gradeschoolers. As a veteran preschool teacher, many of the parents of my own students over the years have found success with Phelan's techniques. However, some conscientious but frustrated moms and dads admitted to me that they found themselves between a rock and a hard place as they reached '2 and 3 quarters', '2 and 7 eighth's', etc ...unable to change the behavior of their sometimes annoying, disrespectful, uncooperative kids. Not to
worry...Although your career as a magician may fall short of your goal, you are not doomed to be labeled an ineffective disciplinarian. It has been my experience, both as a parent and teacher, that there is no one single discipline approach that works every time, for every kid in every family. Although I
totally respect 'the count' in this book, I strongly encourage parents to seek out an assortment of strategies that for whatever reason might be a better fit at a particular moment, in respect to age, personalities and parenting style. If you have young kids (2's, 3's 4's,and 5's) who are literally driving
you towards your wits' end with such things as their bad words, 'I hate you's', hitting, whining, parent deafness, tantrums, lying, 'gimmes', mealtime and bedtime refusals, I suggest checking out "The Pocket Parent", a quick read A-Z guide, loaded with hundreds of fast answers and tips to try. The bullets of information (called 'sanity savers') are written
exclusively for preschool behavior and are based on a solid philosophy that maintains a real sense of concern for the needs and feelings of both children and their parents. I highly recommend both books for a variety of workable discipline options that parents (and preschooler teachers) can choose from while trying to remain sane in the process!
Rating:
Summary: great book
Review: I am an OT and frequently am asked about discipline techniques for strong willed children. I have used these stratagies with my own children and it works. Its simple to implement which is a plus because usually when parents start looking for help, they need something that they can do NOW! They are in a crisis and this gets pretty fast results. It is a helpful resource.
Rating: 
Summary: Effective disciplinary approach
Review: The techniques in this book sounds almost too simple. Give a child three chances to correct misbehavior. Don't get emotional. Be consistent. Use reasonable consequences. It is just that simple, and it works. I find that my home life is a lot more enjoyable when my husband and I consistently use this method with our three-year-old daughter.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book! Therapist recommended!
Review: I was at my wits end with my 2 year old. I started seeing a child therapist for help. She recommended this book and it has truly worked like magic for us!! My 2 year old is now 4 1/2 with two younger siblings and our house is harmonious! (well, most of the time ;-). This book is priceless because when you have another child to tend to, this book gives you a tool to take control of a situation. It saved my life!
Rating:
Summary: Nothing Less than Fabulous!
Review: Read this book, follow the clear instructions to the letter and believe it or not...it really is MAGIC! It's so simple, it's almost laughable. I wasted a lot of time with complicated and energy draining behavior plans. I had no idea it could be this easy. I had a 5 year old who was enormously uncooperative. If you looked up the word, "Defiant" in the dictionary, it would read, "see her daughter"! Now, my daughter is very compliant and disciplined. I rarely get to the count of 2 before she's doing what's asked of her. Dr. Phelan gave us a peaceful, quiet house and a child that my husband & I can thoroughly enjoy! Buy the book - you won't regret it. Thank you, thank you, Dr. Phelan! YOU ARE A LIFESAVER!!!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent book
Review: Our pediatrician recommended this book and it has worked wonderfully with your two year old!!! It is easy to read and easy to follow. Almost seems too easy!
Rating:
Summary: FINALLY! An answer to disciple challenges
Review: I have been searching a long time for a disciplinary system that works. Who knew it would be so simple? The consistency is comforting to the children. The few times that I've forgotten to follow the rules, my daughter has begged to return to these guidelines. Imagine that. A child asking for a tough, uncompromising disciplinary system. We've recommended this book to everyone who has (or works with) children. Our son is learning disabled and the school system is amazed at how well he has adapted to this program. Thank you, Dr. Phelan!
Rating: 
Summary: too simple, not enough examples, not respectful
Review: I didn't finish this book so you can ignore my review if you want. But, the reason I stopped reading it is I thought that it was not respectful of children. I found it to be a little too simplistic in it's "I'm the parent, you're the child, now do what I say!" Call me an earth-mamma or a pushover if you want to - maybe I'll come back to this book someday. But right now I just don't think my kid deserves to be treated like this book suggests - I know that if my parents had talked to me this way, I would have been very frustrated. Yes, I would have been compliant - I'm not saying this doesn't work. But, I hope to have a little bit more trusting and respectful relationship with my kids. Worth reading as a point of comparison, but get it at the library so you don't invest too much.
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