"Mom, Jason's Breathing on Me!"

August 25, 2003
Wolf, a child psychologist, author (Get Out Of My Life, but first could you drive me and Cheryl to the mall?), lecturer and father of two (now grown) children, begins by assuring parents they needn't be perfect. In fact, he suggests a fairly hands-off approach, advising parents to simply not get involved in their children's bickering-related drama (unless there's danger of imminent harm). He grounds this methodology in three basic rules: don't take sides, act whenever you start getting irritated and never listen to what's going on. He also explains why siblings bicker (the number one reason: trying to get a parent on their side) and addresses many tangential aspects of childrearing (e.g., how to instill self-esteem). Through a mix of real and fictional anecdotes, the author not only provides persuasive arguments for his theories, but also gives parents ammunition through tried-and-true tactics (separation is a quick fix), turning the last half of the book into a very useful parental primer.

June 15, 2003
Wolf, a child psychologist, author (Get Out Of My Life, but first could you drive me and Cheryl to the mall?), lecturer and father of two (now grown) children, begins by assuring parents they needn't be perfect. In fact, he suggests a fairly hands-off approach, advising parents to simply not get involved in their children's bickering-related drama (unless there's danger of imminent harm). He grounds this methodology in three basic rules: don't take sides, act whenever you start getting irritated and never listen to what's going on. He also explains why siblings bicker (the number one reason: trying to get a parent on their side) and addresses many tangential aspects of childrearing (e.g., how to instill self-esteem). Through a mix of real and fictional anecdotes, the author not only provides persuasive arguments for his theories, but also gives parents ammunition through tried-and-true tactics (separation is a quick fix), turning the last half of the book into a very useful parental primer.

Copyright 2003 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2003
Wolf, a practicing clinical psychologist, explores one of the greatest banes of parenting--sibling bickering, those incredibly irritating back-and-forths that defy conciliation. His simple solution is a three-part plan. Rule one: Don't take sides. Rule two: Act fast or not at all. Rule three: Don't listen. Unless an argument threatens to escalate into violence (in which case parents should separate the combatants), Wolf recommends that parents not get involved. According to Wolf, the primary cause of sibling bickering is to get a parent to take sides. By refusing to do so, parents can defuse arguments. If parents can discern that a child wants attention in the form of a hug, go ahead and comply, but don't listen to any charges against a sibling. Wolf offers an array of stories of sibling disputes from his own childhood, raising his two children, and his practice. He also explores how parents can teach fairness to children while remaining above the fray. It's an insightful approach that parents may consider worth a try.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2003, American Library Association.)