Cheap Psychological Tricks for Parents

by Buffington, Perry W., Ph.D.

• ISBN13: 9781561452040
• ISBN10: 1561452041
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-04-01
• Publisher: Peachtree Pub Ltd

Summary

Sometimes parents need more resources than love, consistency, and patience to successfully navigate kids through childhood and keep themselves sane at the same time. After all, how do you motivate kids to pick up after themselves and to eat their vegetables without nagging? Psychologist and best-selling author Perry Buffington shows parents how to outsmart their kids and keep a measure of control in the household using tricks and techniques based on current research in the field of behavioral psychology. Written in down-to-earth language, here is an arsenal of practical methods parents can use to improve their kids' socialization, motivate them to behave better, and encourage them to reach their potential.

Table of Contents

Introduction	vii
Part I: THE BIG PICTURE
What's in a Name?	3	(3)
KidThink	6	(3)
What Do I Tell the Children?	9	(3)
Halo or Horns?	12	(3)
High School Glory!	15	(2)
Dutch Treats	17	(3)
Speak Up!	20	(3)
TV or Not TV?	23	(3)
Spare the Rod?	26	(4)
When Authority Speaks	30	(2)
Self-esteem = Abilities ÷ Aspiration	32	(5)
Part II: THE DETAILS
Easy Does It!	37	(2)
The Nine-Foot Rule	39	(2)
Curses Foiled Again	41	(3)
Made of Money	44	(2)
Dear Santa	46	(3)
Making a List and Checking It Twice	49	(2)
Lost and Found	51	(3)
Makes Scents	54	(2)
Stick With Me, Kid	56	(3)
Do You Know Where Your Children Are?	59	(2)
Fire!	61	(4)
Part III: THE BODY
Jumping to Conclusions	65	(2)
Left Is All Right	67	(4)
First Aid Firsts	71	(3)
Healing Hospital Fears	74	(3)
Rock and Roll	77	(2)
Teen Timing	79	(3)
Keeping the Nighttime Dry	82	(2)
Aiming to Please	84	(3)
Clean Bill of Health	87	(3)
Smells Like Teen Spirit	90	(2)
Eat Your Veggies	92	(3)
Just Say No	95	(4)
Part IV: THE BRAIN
From the Hood to the Wood	99	(4)
Readin', 'Ritin', 'Rithmetic, & Ritalin	103	(4)
``E'' for Effort	107	(2)
Helping Hands	109	(2)
A Gift or a Curse?	111	(3)
Put Me In, Coach!	114	(3)
Thinker Toys	117	(3)
Applause! Applause!	120	(4)
Your New Best Friend: The Librarian	124	(3)
The Mind's Eye	127	(3)
The Handwriting on the Wall	130	(3)
The Big Hand Says	133	(2)
You Can Do It!	135	(2)
The Little Engine That Did	137	(4)
Part V: THE HEART
Don't Read This!	141	(3)
Social Security	144	(3)
Big Boys Don't Cry?	147	(3)
Nighty Night, Nightmares	150	(4)
Kiss Her, Dad!	154	(2)
Love Me Tender	156	(2)
Tricks That Treat	158	(5)
Close Encounters	163	(2)
Sick Days	165	(2)
Happy New Year!	167	(3)
Your Child's Special Day	170	(3)
Another Brick in the Wall	173	(3)
The Silly System	176	(3)
The Number One Predictor	179