A LIONHEARTED APPROACH FOR PARENT COACHING

A brief booklet on parenting through typical childrearing problems.

“It is a child’s job to push buttons, test boundaries, repeat undesired behaviors, whine, etc.,” writes Veshee frankly in her nonfiction debut. “It is the parent’s job to set boundaries, be consistent, and follow through.” This clear, wide split between the parent’s and toddler’s world persists throughout the guide, which arranges its tips and instructions along an alphabetical framework. A is for “accountability,” for instance, in which the importance of consequences is stressed. Q is for “questions,” which covers not only the best ways to answer a toddler’s incessant questions (e.g., We’re leaving “after lunch” rather than “in ten minutes”), but also the related Q topic of “quiet,” in which the author recommends creating a quiet corner for overstimulated children (“It should be free from requests and designed to make your child feel relaxed and safe”). Generalized subjects, like “pleading,” are covered, as are more specific things, like diaper changing (be firm, and be a parent; don’t yell, and be your child’s friend). The straightforward style and brevity make this a handy, easily incorporated guide for dozens of the most common problems parents encounter in their suddenly willful and fractious toddlers. She’s equally convincing, whether being whimsical (“Be silly, be animated, dance, laugh, and sing,” she writes. “The more outlandish the message, the better it is received by children”) or writing about “Zero Tolerance” (“Please do not allow your children to harm your pets, ignore you, or be aggressive to anyone in your household” and “Do not walk on eggshells around your child; be calm, be firm, and give immediate consequences for undesired behaviors and model appropriate behaviors”). Parents will find a great deal of useful advice crammed into a small number of pages.

An empathetic but no-nonsense checklist for raising toddlers.