1-2-3 Magic - did it work for you?

[tanfastic]

I bought the 123 Magic parenting book a few weeks ago as I was pretty much at the end of my tether with 3.5 yr old ds. I've been using the techniques for just over a week now (realised that I was doing so many things wrong after reading the book) and the turnaround in my ds has amazed me. I was so sceptical about it but I got Dh and my mum involved too and it's working an absolute treat. He's taken to it like a duck to water and has been the most amazing well behaved calm little boy all over Xmas. I'm now enjoying spending time with my little boy for the first time in weeks.

I'd be interested to hear of other success stories or otherwise and some tips to not let things slide (the main one I've had trouble with us keeping my gob shut!)

bumpety bump

Ooh, this sounds just what I need for my 3.5dd!

I have trouble 'keeping my gob shut' too...

Any pointers for me?

Patience is a virtue...

I've got it on my kindle to read after divas and dictators. At some point I'll admit defeat and realise I'm just shit and they don't like me.

I'd recommend reading it, it's not a massive book, only took me a few nights to get to grips with. The hardest thing is showing no emotion and not talking to them whilst they are being a pain in the arse or tantruming. It's hard keeping schtum when you just want to yell "shut the fuck up"...or words to that effect!

tanfastic do you think it would work with younger kids (a 2.7yo to be precise ). It's on my amazon wish list and the reviews were great but loads of these books seem to be for older kids and I wasn't sure.

Well it says from age 2 to 12 but personally I'm not sure I'd have wanted to start any younger as my DS is now at an age where he totally understands and gets it. No harm in reading it though and trying.

Thanks tanfastic, I've just bought it...!

I want to get this book. The past few weeks ive been doing my own method of 1-2-3. If im trying to get ds1 to do something/stop doing something, ill say 'ds1, If you dont get down from the table by the time i get to three, i will take away fireman sam, 1-2...' and the ds does what i ask! its amazing, before this he never listened to me! You really have to follow through with the consequence though.

Is this the same kind of thing as the book??

My parents did that with me in the 70s.
(It worked, and works for me as a parent too.)

My HV told me about it and, no, it didn't work for us. However nothing has worked at all, time-outs, sticker charts, pasta pots etc. They really don't care what they lose or gain .

I do sometimes get a result by counting down from 5, but it's hit and miss.

I think the reason it works for me is because I've stopped talking, explaining, whining to him etc. Also talking to him like he's a little adult when the book tells you this is one of the worst things to do. I've also stopped dissecting everything after he's calmed down, the book tells you to just leave it, don't start lecturing them and asking for apologies after time out/consequence. By the way I've not done the time out thing with my DS, I've done an alternative punishment instead so for instance last night he threw a placemat on the floor because he didn't want to eat his dinner so I did the 123 thing, he took it to three so I told him there'd be no chocolate at all today. He then stopped and picked up the placemat and ate his dinner. This morning I reminded him about his punishment and he wined a bit but then said ok and he's been an angel today.