Laying Down the Law

Don't worry about being too hard on your kids: the bigger problem, according to psychologist Peters, is that parents are too soft. The author of Don't Be Afraid to Discipline argues that refraining from imposing punishments and allowing children and adolescents to do as they please (whether it's from fear of contributing to a negative self-image or simply from weakness or indifference) produces kids that are disrespectful, uncontrollable and often disliked by peers and superiors. The key, the Today show contributor and parenting pro argues, is ""for parents to take a stand, to draw a line in the sand, and to lay down the law."" In a step-by-step program that explains exactly which rules are necessary to enforce, how parents can implement them properly, and why they are so integral to a child's upbringing, this guidebook is coherent, realistic, and, most importantly, makes sense-even if some of Peters's edicts (""Appoint Yourself Benevolent Dictator,"" ""Make Consequences Catastrophic"") sound a trifle harsh. Placing the responsibility squarely on parents, Peters emphasizes that it is never too late to discipline a child, and that while it may not always be fun, ""effective parenting can be simple.""