Children are people too : a parent's guide to young children's behaviour / Louise Porter with cartoons by Peter MacMullin.

Previous edition: Lonsdale, SA : Small Poppies, 2001.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 262-267) and index.

Part One. The basics of discipline -- Part Two. Responding to inconsiderate behaviour -- Part Three. Specific behavioural challenges -- --

Part One. The basics of discipline -- -- 1. Fundamentals of a guidance approach -- Two styles of discipline -- Conclusion -- -- 2. Reasons not to punish or reward -- Effectiveness -- Disadvantages of punishment in general -- Disadvantages of specific punishments -- Disadvantages of rewards in general -- Disadvantages of specific rewards -- Phasing out rewards -- Conclusion -- -- 3. The three R's: rules, rights and responsibilities -- Rules -- Rights -- Children's responsibilities -- Conclusion -- -- 4. Meeting children's needs -- Human needs -- Belonging -- Self-esteem -- Autonomy -- Conclusion -- -- 5. Communicating to solve problems -- Listening -- Assertiveness -- Collaborative problem solving -- Conclusion -- -- Part Two. Responding to inconsiderate behaviour -- -- 6. Origins of inconsiderate behaviour -- Internal causes -- Reactive behaviours -- The attention-seeking myth -- Responses to the behaviour types -- Conclusion -- -- 7. Everyday responses to behavioural disruptions -- Give positive instructions -- Change the demand -- Avoid escalating confrontations -- Work as a team -- Conclusion -- -- 8. Teaching children emotional self-control -- Explain growing up -- Teach adaptive thinking -- Help children regain emotional control -- Consistency -- Conclusion -- -- 9. Resolving chronic behavioural difficulties -- Check your preventative measures -- Refine present approaches -- Do something different -- Give up -- Warn about relapses -- Conclusion -- -- 10. Discipling in public -- Responding to your own child in public -- Responding to someone else's child -- Conclusion -- -- Part Three. Specific behavioural challenges -- -- 11. Self-management skills -- Disturbed sleeping patterns -- Eating -- Toilet learning -- Dressing -- Separating from parents -- Reunions -- Fears -- Uncooperativeness -- Stealing -- Homework -- Music practice -- Chores -- Tidying up toys -- Destructiveness -- Conclusion -- -- 12. Social skills -- Shyness -- Sharing -- Isolation -- Refusal to include other child in play -- Aggression -- Biting -- Lack of remorse -- Bullying -- Prejudice and discrimination -- Rough and tumble play -- Super hero play -- Sibling rivalry -- Children's disputes -- Telling tales -- Lost friends -- Succumbing to peer pressure -- Use of manners -- Telling lies -- Expressing anger at parents -- 'Answering back' -- Swearing -- Conclusion -- -- 13. Atypical development -- Language skills -- Refusal to talk (selective mutism) -- Articulation errors -- Baby talk -- Asking repeated questions -- Sensory integration difficulties -- The autism spectrum disorders -- The attention-deficit disorders -- Oppositional defiance disrder (ODD) -- Children with disabilities -- Gifted children -- Conclusion -- -- 14. Family issues -- Raising girls and boys -- Grandparents -- Bereavement -- Separation and divorce -- Intermittent parental absence -- Single parenthood -- Repartnered families -- Spouse abuse -- Child abuse -- Conclusion.

Dr Porter explains why a controlling approach to children's behaviour usually results in more work for parents and long- term problems for children. Dr Porter advocates a guidance approach to raising children, arguing that it will result in their being more confident, considerate, co-operative and independent.