THIS BOOK OFFERS THE
FOLLOWING
IMPORTANT PARENTING INFORMATION:
How to shape a child’s behavior
without punishment
Why punishment can actually increase bad behavior
How parents can use bad behavior to their advantage
How to manage resistant and oppositional children
How to use “time-out” correctly and effectively
Why parents often have to change their own behavior
Parents spend so much time and energy trying to make their
children behave, you would think they would have a deliberate, thought-out system for
accomplishing this goal. Most parents, however, lament that not only do they not
have a pre-determined plan, but that the "method" most of them use —
punishment — doesn't seem to do the trick and it is very unpleasant to
administer. It seems that the majority of parents simply don't know any other way to
manage bad behavior in their children, so they resort to what their parents did with them
— traditional punishment In his groundbreaking new book, Dr. John Maag explains that
the problem with punishment is that it simply doesn't work. It is always contingent on a
child's bad behavior, it is based on principles of negative reinforcement and it is always
reactive — in other words, a recipe for disaster.
In its place, Dr. Maag suggests that parents try his method
— a proactive approach that focuses on emphasizing and encouraging a child's good
behavior rather than trying to decrease his bad behavior. In addition, Dr. Maag suggests
using such bad behavior as a focal point for determining which behaviors need to be
changed. Although this might seem obvious, it’s much more complicated than one would
expect. Neither radical nor far-fetched, Maag's system, based on traditional applied
behavior analysis techniques, is completely sensible and effective.
Step-by-step directions, practical examples, fill-in charts and
questionnaires show parents how to effectively manage a wide range of problem behaviors in
their children, from minor problems to depression and attention deficit disorder (ADD)
Maag's method stresses consistency and positive reinforcement that will shape a child's
behavior far more profoundly than will punishment.
Filling a long-standing need, Parenting Without Punishment
will help parents and teachers promote responsible, independent, creative and secure
future adults.
REVIEWS
“This book will help parents sort out the drivel from the worthwhile. Refreshingly full of common sense and well-worth reading.”
— Library Journal
“No other parenting book has so successfully taken principles
of behavior and transformed them into practical, easy-to-follow techniques.”
Dr.
Jo Webber (Former President of the Council for Children with Behavioral Disorders
“This excellent book, a very readable source of important information on behavioral principles and procedures, will have great appeal to parents
who need help dealing with their children’s problem behaviors. Especially useful for therapists and counselors to give to parents, it explains
principles of behavioral analysis in a clear manner, well illustrated with real-life examples, and how they can be applied to a wide
range of behavior problems, including ADD, depression and resistant behaviors. For a long time, the use of punishment has been
decried by professionals without providing parents with positive alternatives. With the aim of enhancing the lives of both the
children and the parents, Parenting Without Punishment is an excellent exception and should be read by every parent.” — Journal of Child and Family Studies
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
John W. Maag, PhD is
Associate Professor of Special Education and Communication Disorders at
University of
Nebraska at
Lincoln. A licensed psychotherapist, Dr.
Maag specializes in the treatment of children with emotional and behavioral
disorders. He is the father of three children.
The Charles
Press, Publishers
