A review by portalley
Gentle Discipline Book: How to raise co-operative, polite and helpful children by Sarah Ockwell-Smith

4.0

This book really boils down to: stay calm, validate the emotions that were the driving force behind misbehavior and work on more productive ways to handle those emotions, and give your kids as much autonomy and input in their lives (and in deciding consequences for misbehavior) as you can. I don’t agree with the author on all points, but after reading I’m able to articulate why I will continue to use some disciplinary measures she finds not useful or counterproductive. This book does suppose that parents are able to be supernaturally calm at all times, which can feel a little judgmental and shaming, so I don’t recommend this book if you’re at the end of your rope and need to validate your OWN emotions before you can find a better way to deal with them. But it’s a good read if you’re just looking for more parenting tools in your toolbox!