Love and Logic Magic for Early Childhood: Practical Parenting from Birth to Six Years

If you want help with:

* Potty training

* Temper tantrums

* Bedtime

* Whining

* Time-out

* Hassle-free mornings

* and many other everyday challenges

Then this book is for you!

This book is the tool parents of little ones have been waiting for. America's Parenting Experts Jim Fay and Charles Fay, Ph.D., help you start your child off on the right foot. The tools in Love and Logic Magic for Early Childhood will give you the building blocks you need to create children who grow up to be responsible, successful teens and adults. And as a bonus you will enjoy every stage of your child's life and look forward to sharing a lifetime of joy with them.

Having personally shed tears over my two-year-old daughter's colorful displays of strong will, I picked up this book that I've had since before she was born. Being that she was such a wonderful baby, I naively figured we'd skate through the "terrible twos" and that they wouldn't be terrible at all. While I wouldn't globally say that from 18 months until now has been terrible, it's been more challenging.

That's where logic comes in. This book is particularly helpful to those of us who don't tend to operate logically but react emotionally. It offers practical steps that when employed as recommended really work. The authors say that it's never too late or too early to start putting into practice the techniques.

The book impresses the value of children experiencing the natural consequences of their actions (logic). Simultaneously, the authors encourage parents many times throughout the book to empathize with their children prior to disciplining (love). For example, Stella throws her food at lunch. Mom says, "That's so sad. Lunch is over now." Mom maintains her composure, puts an end to the behavior without lecturing and multiple warnings, and the child bears an immediate consequence for the behavior.

According to the authors, children love to make choices so give them plenty. These choices, however, should be ones that make you happy and don't bother "anyone else on the planet." For example, Dad asks, "Would you like milk or juice for lunch? Or would you like to go to bed now or in five minutes?" Whatever the child decides, having soda for lunch is not an option. Likewise, not going to bed is not an option.

The approach presented in the book may sound lightweight to some but actually is quite strict and gives children effective boundaries. The ultimate goal of using the Love and Logic techniques: raise responsible children that respect authority, have a positive self-concept, and who are able to make wise independent decisions now and throughout life.

When I started trying the "experiments" outlined in the book, I witnessed immediate results with our daughter. Being the type that needs things spelled out for me, the specific steps accompanied by numerous examples in the book helped me grasp the principles easily. The book has also helped me breathe easier. After feeling distraught and certain we were failing miserably as parents, I now feel renewed by a sense of joy and hope. Yes, the book has that much power.

The challenge now is to be quicker on my feet with good choices. My husband and I have said some of the most ridiculous things in an effort to give our daughter choices we'll be happy with. It's good comic relief for otherwise tense and frustrating moments.

Note: About halfway through the book, the authors offer a three-step suggestion for disciplining children three and younger (when reasoning is more difficult). Also, I have yet to do so, but it would probably be helpful to read the original Parenting With Love and Logic book as it explains the love and logic principles.

THANK YOU TO THE AUTHORS FOR WRITING THIS BOOK!! YOU'VE TRANSFORMED THE TERROR OF TODDLERHOOD. YOU'VE ALSO PROMPTED ME TO HAVE FUN AND LIGHTEN UP. IF MY DAUGHTER COULD TELL YOU HERSELF, SHE'D SAY THANK YOU FOR HELPING MOM NOT BE SO UPTIGHT.


If your preschooler is running your house...GET THIS BOOK!   July 30, 2003
96 out of 98 found this review helpful

I saw Jim Fay in person at a parenting lecture and he was fabulous! He is warm, witty, and wise--as are his books. There are so many tips to chose from and we pick what seems right for us and each of our kids at the moment. Sometimes we found what works with one child is all wrong for his sister. Parenting with "love and logic" has relieved much of the daily stress and anger in our family. We seem to communicate in ways that result in more cooperation from my kids. I am so glad Jim has now written a book exclusively for the very challenging early years. Even the best parent with a preschooler occasionally wonders, "Who's really in charge here anyway?" I feel so incompetent sometimes...I appreciate the easy access organization of this book that enables me to get some quick advice along with some welcome reassurance that I'm not the only parent who has these problems. I recently found another "little" book that has hundreds of helpful tips and noticed that Jim Fay is quoted in it. "The Pocket Parent" is not written in paragraphs, but rather short bullets of friendly practical information organized into an A-Z format. It's so great to be able to quickly look up a troublesome behavior such as: biting, bedtime and mealtime refusals, lying, whining, tantrums, and "I hate you's," -- immediately finding some sensible ideas to try. The philosophies of both these books are very similar. Both books offer alternatives to yelling, bribing, threatening, critizing, and nagging that aren't working anyway! If you have a pre-schooler (2, 3, 4, or 5 years old) that is testing your sanity, I highly recommend "Love and Logic Magic for Early Childhood" and "The Pocket Parent." Both books are helpful, humorous and worth keeping handy for when you need some quick advice or just some empathy on one of those really bad days when you think you are about to lose your mind!


Balanced, Very Practical Early Childhood Guidance   July 27, 2002
Michael Gorsline, MA (Portland, OR United States)
53 out of 55 found this review helpful

I am a former elementary school teacher and I am now a therapist and parent coach who is also parent of a spirited four year old (who keeps me current in my work). I've found the Love and Logic philosophy to be among the most sound, practical parenting advice I've come across in the field. This book in particular is superb. It is fun reading that can change your life as a parent. What I like best about it is the way that it's organized so you can find memorable, concise and pertinent ideas, even when you only have a few moments to skim. Love and Logic Magic is also a useful reference. This is an excellent book for helping to create a warm, loving relationship with your child that sets him/her on the path to responsibility and success, and at the same time makes your life a bit easier right away. I recommend it often in my work for its balanced approach and I've purchased several copies for friends and family!


AWSOME!   February 15, 2005
Tonya S. Blanchford (Rochester Hills, MI)
29 out of 29 found this review helpful

I really love this book because it's geared towards kids from birth to age six. I've read the "Parenting with Love & Logic" book but it's for older children. I like how this one discusses what to do with a crying baby, through potty-training and beyond up to about age six. It's never too early to start parenting with love and logic.

We used to have up to 10 time-outs per day with our 3 1/2 year old son. We also have a 1 year old son who can provoke some of the bad behavior of his older brother. However, once we started using the "Uh Oh Song" with our older son our whole relationship changed! We went from 10 time-outs per day, stress between us, me yelling, etc. to a really loving and respectful relationship and no more time-outs! It was amazing and fast! We don't do time-outs any more and only an occaisional "Uh Oh Song". I don't yell anymore (for the most part) and we have a really sweet and respectful relationship.

We also give him lots of choices which makes him feel so important and like he has some control over his life. That has helped a lot too. We've been applying many of the techniques in this book for six months now and everything is still "hunky dory" compared to what it used to be.

LOVE AND LOGIC REALLY WORKS! And this books give plenty of examples to help anyone find solutions to their CHALLENGES with their children.


Love and Logic Magic for Early Childhood   April 19, 2002
TJ Wallace (Orange, Ca USA)
33 out of 35 found this review helpful

We have a 6 year old and a 4 year old with very different personalities, and of the 50 -60 books we've read, this book has helped us the most. We wish we had read this 6 years ago....... This will make your life a lot easier.......