As you can imagine, being a WAHM does not leave me much time to read.  So when I spend time reading a book that I don’t get much out of, I’m pretty disappointed at the end.

This was one of those books.

I heard great things about Dr. Karp’s other book, The Happiest Baby on the Block.  I never read it during my son’s newborn days, because as I mentioned before, I was quite the Babywise fanatic.  But some of my friends really enjoyed it, so I thought I’d try the toddler version of his book, The Happiest Toddler on the Block: How to Eliminate Tantrums and Raise a Patient, Respectful, and Cooperative One- to Four-Year-Old.

Although a National Best Seller, I think the majority of The Happiest Toddler on the Block success has been from piggy backing off Dr. Karp’s first success.  This book did not offer any new or interesting parenting theories that I hadn’t heard of before, or that I felt could really change the world and how I interact with my toddler.

He does lay some groundwork in the beginning of the book, explaining how the toddler brain scientifically functions much differently than an adult brain.  While one would assume this, he contributes these differences in brain function to differences in thought proccesses and actions, leaving a toddler nothing more than a “little caveman.”

Beyond that, I found the book full of over used parenting scenarios and imaginary role play between parent and toddler.  Much of his advice was basic communication improvement techniques, such as using nonverbals and the use of repetition.

About half way through the book, I probably would have stoped reading if it weren’t for wanting to finish the book for this review.  Otherwise, I wouldn’t have wasted my time.