Drama-Free Discipline

by Dr. Ray Guarendi

Published by Sophia Institute Press

 

Parenting is a beautiful, rewarding, and sanctifying gift! As our family welcomes each new addition, my husband and I are amazed and marveled with the unique personalities of each individual little soul that God creates. Each child also needs to be raised and disciplined in his or her own special ways. Some children need more firm correction, while others respond better to gentle correction. Dr. Ray Guarendi has covered practically all of the bases in his new book: Drama-Free Discipline. 

The Structure of the Book

The book is composed of short scenarios or dialogues written in the form of a play or script. When I read them, I could see the scene unfolding with the parents and children. He sets each “scene” with a prologue, and interjects into the dialogue with his advice and tips. He corrects where the parent could improve, and he offers advice that would discipline and teach the child in a more effective way. The scenarios start with the toddler years, and progresses all the way through the teen years.  Each scenario ends with an epilogue to give Dr. Ray’s closing advice and thoughts. These were my favorite, as they were often witty and made me chuckle.

You can see a sample scenario in the book preview here.

An Enjoyable Read with Practical Advice

Dr. Ray’s writing is enjoyable, entertaining, and digestible. The scenarios are short, packed with realistic and relatable examples, and include sound advice. His tone is laid back and light, and he is full of wisdom. I found myself nodding along when I often agreed with Dr. Ray, and I also learned some helpful tips and gained some new perspectives. We haven’t reached the teen years in our home yet, so I really appreciated the diverse examples and tips for those years.

I really like how the book isn’t laid out like a list of rules to remember and implement, but rather concrete problems or situations paired with practical tips to solve them.

Parenting through a Catholic Lens

There is so much conflicting advice on parenting and child-rearing, and I think it is so important to find authentically Catholic parenting advice to guide us. Dr. Ray speaks as a Catholic parent himself, sprinkling in tips and thoughts on prayer and virtue growth. However, the Faith is not overly emphasized in the book, so I think it would be a helpful tool for all parents, regardless of Faith. In fact, I think it would be a gentle evangelizing tool for new parents in particular.

If you, or a friend you know, is looking for practical parenting advice that can be digested in enjoyable, small chunks, be sure to check out this book!

You can find Drama-Free Discipline from Sophia Institute Press.