how you’ll replace these negative actions with deliberate,
respectful, and more useful 1-2-3 Magic strategies.- Practice, practice, practice! Work hard and thoughtfully until
the new methods become automatic. Because 1-2-3 Magic
works so well, it tends to be self-reinforcing, which makes the
deliberate-to-automatic conversion much easier.
Automatic parenting includes another critically important activity
that you do all the time: modeling. Children are great imitators, and
they learn a lot by just watching the way you behave. If you are
respectful toward others, your kids will tend to be the same. If you
scream in fury during fits of road rage, on the other hand... Well, you
get the idea.
Quik TipIdentify your automatic parenting habits that are harmful, useless, or upsetting. As
you read 1-2-3 Magic, decide how you’ll replace these negative actions with
deliberate, respectful, and more useful strategies.The goal, therefore, is effective, automatic parenting. This
approach takes some concentration and effort in the beginning, but in
the end it’s a whole lot less work. And you and your family are a
whole lot better off!