Home | Crafts for kids | Recipes | App and Book Reviews | Stop Reacting and Start Responding by Sharon Silver: Book Review

When I was asked to take the book Stop Reacting and Stop Responding for a test drive, I agreed because I thought it might have some good ideas for…somebody else. I figured that after surviving three kids and more tantrums than I care to remember, it wouldn’t have much for me to use. Boy, was I wrong.

In the introduction, Sharon Silver explains the premise of the book. Her desire is to share “new ways to discipline consciously and do it without reacting, while still being firm enough to create change” and to help parents “create a balance between the job of correcting a child and loving a child” (10). What a great way to approach parenting! It inspired me to keep reading.

The first thing I noticed that the chapters are designed to be “mom-friendly”.  Each mini-chapter addresses one parenting tip with practical examples, sample conversations, and a quick recap – perfect for a boost of encouragement or a new way to address a disciplinary issue. Have a kid who is fibbing? Jump to the chapter called “Lying – Punishing is not the Answer”. Have kids who constantly beg for you to buy them things at the store? Check out the chapter called “Begging for Stuff – Make it Stop”. The chapters are grouped loosely into a number of chapters, such as “Behavior”, “Feelings”, and “Learning”. The order seemed a little random, which makes sense when you think of them as a collection of “tips”. I thought the table of contents was much more useful to find what I needed.

The next thing I noticed was how each chapter was chock full of practical and realistic suggestions. Actually, I didn’t realize this until the next day when I had to go to the grocery store with my three kids. I was walking down the yogurt aisle and my youngest started screaming at the top of her lungs that her brother poked her. I immediately thought of the “Begging for Stuff” chapter, which was focused on whining kids, but I adapted the tip to my situation. I simply stopped the cart and told her that we would start walking again when she was ready to stop crying. And we waited…until she stopped screaming. I didn’t just react, but I calmly responded to the behavior in an appropriate way.

As a parent, I am stretched to my limit on a daily basis. I get into bad habits with my parenting and I stop thinking about what I am saying and doing. Sharon’s book helped me to refocus on paying attention to my tone of voice and the words that I say to my kids. It was motivating, encouraging, and much more than I ever imagined.

So who is Sharon Silver? She is a parent educator, speaker, coach, TV and radio host with a background in Parenting and Early Childhood Development. She is currently the host of Stop Reacting, Start Responding on MomTV.com, and the former host of Getting to the Heart of the Matter on HerInsight radio. To get your own copy of Sharon Silver’s book, Stop Reacting and Start Responding, visit the book’s website where both print and e-book versions are available.

Disclaimer: I was provided with a complimentary copy of Stop Reacting and Start Responding to review for MCG. However, all of my opinions are my own. 

 

Home | Crafts for kids | Recipes | App and Book Reviews | Stop Reacting and Start Responding by Sharon Silver: Book Review