The Gentle Discipline Book

How to raise co-operative, polite and helpful children

By: Sarah Ockwell-Smith

Narrated by: Katy Sobey

Length: 7 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

Discipline is a vital part of child-rearing, but many parents misunderstand how to use it and attempt to control their child's behaviour via a combination of punishment and motivation. Yet while this traditional approach may appear to produce quick results, it can potentially damage the child and, in the long term, leave parents with a far worse problem than they had initially.

The Gentle Discipline Book analyses common discipline techniques and explains why so many are ineffective. It focuses on helping parents understand why children misbehave and how to respond in a way that will help them work with - rather than against - their child.

Gentle discipline focuses on teaching and learning rather than punishing. With plenty of practical advice and case studies from real families, it will enable parents to set boundaries and enforce them with compassion and respect; it also demonstrates how parents can inspire children to be better and do better and how to set a great example for them. Gentle parenting is not about being a pushover - it means understanding children and having realistic expectations of them as well as responding appropriately and consistently.

The book covers a range of ages, and the principles it contains work with toddlers, tweens and teenagers equally well - because it helps parents respond to the unique needs of each individual child. As well as providing a framework that will enable parents to become experts in their own child's behaviour, The Gentle Discipline Book provides solutions to common problems such as whining and sulking, aggressive behaviour, refusal to do things, rudeness, sibling rivalry, lying, low self-esteem and a lack of confidence.

©2016 Sarah Ockwell-Smith (P)2016 Little Brown Book Group

THE definitive book for parenting help

Brilliantly written by a real human being who has been through all the same struggles all us parents have been, are currently, or will eventually go through. The suggestions and advice found in this book are the best and most sound I’ve ever heard anywhere. Ockwell-Smith emphasizes addressing the root causes of your child’s behavior in such a way that you need never make them feel bad while still encouraging them to grow into the best person they can be. I wish that all parents could read or listen to this book and put it into practice. We would surely live in a much more pleasant world were that the case.

Sound & Balanced Advice

So glad that I gave this book a listen. Will probably listen to it again. You can feel good about things you may be doing right and get some wonderful tips for positive changes that are needed. Thank you Sarah!

First third was very good, doubtful about the rest

The second part of the book contradict the first part and it's hard to differ between good and useless advise.

Ableism and that’s that

I could not even power through this book. This book had so much ableism. Leaving daughter alone to clean room and then wasn’t able to join for lunch. Describing the absolute stereotypical symptoms of neurodivergence. I cannot even stomach what else could possibly be in this book.

Content is great but I'm not keen on the voice

Really useful content and I'm picking up tips. However I don't feel there's any feeling or passion in the narrator's voice (she's not the author) and it's like listening to someone read a child a story with no expression. I'll stick with it as I won't get round to reading it myself on my kindle, but I think a different voice artist (with understanding of and passion for the subject) would have been better.

Wow - a MUST read

This book may have literally changed my life as a mother. I am a single mum with 2 little girls ages 4 and a half & 6 and a half. They stay with daddy every other weekend. This book has made me understand my eldest daughter so much more! To put myself in her shoes and to really think about what she must be thinking at the time. Thank you!!!!

Worth Every Peeny!

I have read a few Books on Raising Children and this one definitely seems the Best for Sure.Great practical advice that i needed. Straightforward and very well written!

helpful from Sarah Ockwell-Smith, as always

I find Sarah's books so helpful when I find we are struggling, they always get us back on track with little effort, just a change of mindset on my behalf.

Please stop using Katy Sobey to narrate though, she is dull as dishwater. That's the second book she's almost ruined for me (Gut was the other...she makes it so....dry).

A must read for every parent of any age.

Great help and advice for prospective parents, parents, grand parents and even great grandparents.
Empathise with the child seems to be the core value running throughout this book.
Wish I had read it 40 years ago, but now is the next best time.
Can't recommend this book highly enough.

A must-listen for all parents

I can't praise this book enough. Sarah Ockwell-Smith is one of my favourite authors and this book certainly doesn't disappoint. With clear explanation regarding childrens' behaviour, practical examples and solutions, it is one of the best parenting books I have listened to (and I have listened to quite a few already). The author is also very much places herself in the parents' shoes and mentions that nobody is perfect, including herself, enough times so that it makes the parent feel a sense of relief, that they aren't alone and that even experts make mistakes :) The narrator is also excellent. A must-listen for all parents (to be).

Excellent book

Excellent book, brilliant advice, wish I had listened to this a few years earlier.

The narrator’s accents when reading comments from parents are HIGHLY annoying and devalue the advice, in my opinion.

Fantastic book but irritated by voices used

I love the concept behind this book and will definitely be using the gentle discipline method for my two children.

The only thing that annoyed me was the reader. At times, it sounded as if it were being read by a computer and when real life scenarios were read, the accents used were just awful.

One of the best books ever

Absolutely couldn't recommend it enough.
Lifesaver, sanity saver, eye opener.
Came when I needed the most. Thank you so much for writing this. I'm sure I'll refer back to it many times in the future

The book I wish they handed out at my antenatal classes

I would highly recommend this book to everyone. If you have children it will help you be a better parent, and if you don’t it will help you be more compassionate and less judgmental of those adopting a gentle parenting approach to discipline. Other reviewers mentioned the annoying accents when reading parents questions but I didn’t find it annoying at all, the accents were subtle and made it easier to differentiate between each individual person. The only thing I would say is that if you are partway through your parenting journey when you discover this book you need to be able to learn to be kind to yourself for any past misdemeanours, which is what this book also advocates. None of us are perfect but we can still try to do better.