Have a New Kid by Friday: How to Change Your Child's Attitude, Behavior & Character in 5 Days
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Have a New Kid by Friday: How to Change Your Child's Attitude, Behavior & Character in 5 Days

3.65 of 5 stars 3.65  ·  rating details  ·  642 ratings  ·  233 reviews
The book that took the parenting world by storm is now available in trade paper Anyone who has dealt with parenting problems knows that it is no easy task to turn bad behavior around. Bestselling author and psychologist Dr. Kevin Leman is here to help.
"Have a New Kid by Friday" shows parents how to reverse negative behavior in their children--fast With his sig...more
Paperback, 0 pages
Published May 1st 2010 by Fleming H. Revell Company
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Lisa Topp
Lisa Topp rated it 5 of 5 stars  ·  review of another edition
Recommends it for: all moms/dads
Recommended to Lisa by: Focus on the Family
Shelves: non-fiction
By the end of the summer I was losing my mind with my older daughters, ages 9 and 7. This book suggestion popped up in a weekly e-mail, and I really needed new kids by Friday - if not sooner! A few chapters in, (I read more than one a day - I need to get the program going!)I really like the common sense approach, and the fact that you are shaping attitute, behavior and character - they are all intertwined. I started changing my approach already today, and we made it all the way to bedtime with n...more
Christie Hagerman
Christie Hagerman rated it 3 of 5 stars  ·  review of another edition
Recommends it for: any parents
Shelves: family
This has some good pointers overall, but most of it didn't apply to our particular family, since we're homeschoolers who don't have the typical American family/schedule. I liked the suggestions for practical consequences to unwanted behaviors but was disappointed at how many don't apply to us.
Rachel
Thanks to my MiL for getting this book for me. She was right...some of the ideas this guy uses are excellent. He is practical and has a down-to-earth approach to problems we all face as parents. That being said, I did NOT like all of his personal examples. They read a lot like this, "My children are so angelic. We are such awesome parents. We have never made a mistake and our children are perfect. Just listen to what my daughter/son did..." It was HIGHLY annoying! Common sense ...more
Sheridan
On my quest to improve my parenting, I have read many, many, many, many books. A lot were really good, some were just ok.

I just read Have a New Kid by Friday by, Dr. Kevin Leman. It was pretty good. I would give it 4 or 5 stars. Easy to read, simple steps to implement, reminders of what really I already know, but it is often so hard to DO what we know we should.

I guess I don't know for sure if it works yet, because as we all know, it means I need to change, in ord...more
Laura G
Laura G rated it 4 of 5 stars  ·  review of another edition
Recommends it for: parents, teachers
In surfing bestsellers this came up. The title seemed so funny that I had to get more info.

After reading the book and testing out some of the ideas in a modified way in my classroom, I have to say that this stuff really does seem to work as far as getting difficult kids to see that it is time for them to change. Not only did it give me some new techniques for working with kids, but the advice that really helped me was that of not feeling guilty about offering true guidance to kids, w...more
Erin Ott
I found many of the author's techniques helpful. I agree that a parent's job is to be a parent first and foremost and not to concentrate on being your child's friend. The writing is readable and interesting. I appreciated the anecdotes and humor. I think the main failing of this book is that the author doesn't provide alternatives for when the techniques don't work, he simply states that they will work! For example, he suggests that if you are shopping and you tell your child it is time to ...more
Jodiox
Very good, but also VERY difficult to put into practice. Goes against a lot of the general ideas of how a lot of us parent today. I never thought of praising my kids as doing them a disservice, but after reading his thoughts, I agree. Encouragement is good, but that is different than praising, which is what most of us do.

The first chapters are about the general principles of his parenting theory, which I would sum up as parents need to stay in control, not get angry, say it once and...more
Adriane Devries
Dr. Kevin Leman’s title, Have a New Kid By Friday, fools parents into thinking that this book will change their kid’s rotten behavior, when in reality it is the parent who must change first. He knew no one would buy a book called “I’m a Lousy Parent, I Need A Fast-Track Remedial Course.” This hilarious book is a wonderful source of practical, easy-to-remember gems like, “Say it once, turn your back, and walk away;” and “B doesn’t happen until A is done.” Leman’s primary premise is that kids a...more
Diana
Quite the catchy title, but I like how he breaks it into just a few things to focus on each day. Monday is "I mean business" day (Say it once, turn your back, walk away.) Tuesday's strategies are let reality be the teacher, learn to respond rather than react, and B doesn't happen until A is completed. Wednesday is about parenting styles, with the goal of being authoritative/responsible in order to focus on the relationship before the rules and avoid making mountains out of molehill....more
Rachel
Dr. Leman makes some good points about setting the appropriate tone for a parent-child relationship, about boundaries and respect. In fact, I agree with most of his broader statements about kids and their needs. His "talk and walk away" approach is probably only effective with some kids, though. I think my personality is far to direct to get involved in child psychology. I've probably formed my parenting habits from my Mom, who was a pretty no-nonsense person. (She spoke as though ...more
Heather
So how do you change your kid in a week? Well I guess it really comes down to changing yourself or rather your parenting style. I loved some of the authors advice, especially the part about getting the kids to listen. He recommends saying it once and then walking away and letting the children deal with the natural consequences of not doing as you asked. This works amazingly well!

Not all the ideas in this book were feasible with my children, mainly due to their ages. And some suggesti...more
Chase
Excellent resource that every parent should read! Even if you do not have a "trouble" child, this book gives excellent ideas of how to build good attitudes, behavior, and character in your children. It also helps you discover what kind of parent you are and what changes you can make in yourself to be a better parent!

It is a helpful resource for anyone working with children as well. The techniques and lessons can be applied to the children you work with.

Kate Hyde
This book offers great parenting advice. For such a long time I followed Attachment Parenting, but I've found that it has morphed into permissive parenting. I would bite my tongue until I couldn't stand it anymore, at which point I would blow up and yell at my daughter, and then feel completely guilty afterward. I needed a change, and this book was just the change I needed.

This kind of discipline is all about actions, not words. There's no need to yell, but your children do face ...more
Renise
One can only hope...
Nel
I like his technique, but sometimes harder to pull off than suggested. Example: I am at home before taking the kids somewhere. The kids start being disobedient, very disobedient. I am feeling claustrophobic in my little house with momentarily disobedient kids. Am I likely to pull the we-are-not-going-anywhere-afterall card? Not likely!! But done right, his techniques are stellar!!
Rachel
I'm still waiting for my new kid to arrive in the mail. My son saw the book and actually asked if we were going to get a new kid. I told him that yes, we were going to get a new kid.....to replace the old ones....he thought that was so funny.

Good ideas, helpful info. In all actuality, after reading this book, I realized that my kids are actually GREAT kids afterall! :)
Cara
UPDATE: I think I am too direct of a person to be very successfull at this passive agressive technique. I do really think that it can work, but I just am not sure if it fits my personality type. I'm just not very good at being passive agressive. I am going to read a few more books and see if I can find something that works better for me. I may come back to this though.

I really like the no nonsense approach in this book. No new age parenting here. I have no doubt that this appr...more
Adrian Charles
This book is brilliant in its simplicity and rooted in sound principles. It's a good, quick read for anyone struggling with a strong-willed child, and has the potential to be very helpful. However:
- It's strongly rooted in American Christian Conservative cultural values, and may be less palatable to those of other backgrounds;
- It makes false assurances of 100% effectiveness that make it sound unnecessarily like snake-oil.

"Just walk away— your child *will* back down"...more
Tracy
Eh...it was ok. The author's attitude was a bit off-putting. And while I love the idea of natural consequences, I think it is somewhat difficult to implement because not every situation really has a tidy resolution like this author implies. Still, it was a good common sense guide and a reminder to not play into my children's dramas.
Bethany
I felt like everything he said was stuff I'd already heard...but I suppose I needed to hear it again (otherwise I wouldn't have bought it!) :P

I did really like the way he set up the information though. We all know to "follow through" with what we say, etc, but what exactly are we supposed to DO when our kid stomps off down the hall and slams the door while screaming "I never get to do anything I want!"? (ahem).

Well, he addresses that and a ton of other...more
Heidi
I've heard Kevin Leman speak on video, and it's a good thing I did, otherwise I would have completely disregarded everything in this book. Leman is a "well-known psychologist," according to him, and gives seminars around the country on kids' behavior and how parental attitudes and actions play into that. The first half of the book is how you can completely change your child's behavior and attitude in only five days, and the second half is a question and answer section and alphabetica...more
Nicole
Nicole rated it 4 of 5 stars  ·  review of another edition
Recommended to Nicole by: Amazon.com
Nothing really earth-shattering or new here, at least for me (I do know parents, however, that could benefit from this crash course in creating a respectful family with kids that are enjoyable to be around). But even if you have great, well-behaved kids, it's still good to revisit the central themes of this book: Creating good attitudes, behavior and character in our children. I don't know so much about the 5 day plan, but Leman offers some good solid strategies to employ nonetheless. Straight-f...more
lee lee
Much of the specific situations/solutions provided in this book are impractical for any part of the population that isn't middle-class, with their 2.5 kids. But I get the overall idea. There's an underlying, commonsensical attitude that I definitely agree with, and it's good to review the best way to maintain your parental distance, as I've come to think of it. Like the author himself says, we're not dealing with Rocket Science here; it's just child rearing. Whether you use his terminology/l...more
Rachel
I think most of the advice in the book is solid and something that is sorely needed in parenting today. I think it is a good book but at the same time, I felt that some of the advice given was not practical. If I followed what the author said to do is some circumstances, the result would not be what he states. (trying not to spoil anything here). I know my children and I know that they would react the opposite way in some of the circumstances. BUT! Having said that, I wouldn't discount this book...more
Mary
So far this book has reminded me of the things I need to do instead of giving my kids five hundred chances or warnings. I hope to put it to work and then maybe I should rate it. It was definitely an easy read.
Beverly
Beverly rated it 4 of 5 stars  ·  review of another edition
Recommends it for: everyone
I truly enjoyed this book. It was plainly written with some good ideas that are easy to implement. A no nonsense approach. Wish it had been around when my kids were young. A great shower gift for the new mom!
Bonnie
It's working so far- I loved the "tell them once, walk away and don't look back - expect that they will listen to what you had to say" theory. It's worked well with two of the three kids so far.
Kathy Smith
Dr. Kevin Leman is a funny, practical man gifted with great insight into raising godly, well-behaved children. I'm having a blast watching my kids and grandson as I've changed the way I respond to them. I try not to give in to anger, or yell, or judge, or allow myself to be cajoled and belittled. I'm truly enjoying "saying it once, turning my back, and walking away". They don't like it much. I've punctured their balloons and let the air out, and they're just not too sure what to e...more
Alice
A tough, no-nonsense approach to parenting, based on sound principles that really work (though you have to be vigilant... this isn't for the faint of heart or for wimps). I like how the author doesn't go on and on to fill a book (like many books in the categories of self-help, parenting, relationships, etc.) but gives you straight-forward solutions, plain and simple, in just a few chapters. You can start employing the principles right away. The rest of the book is a reference guide so you can...more
Janice
I have borrowed this book from my sister about three times now. Each time I read it I come away with new ideas and strategies to try in our parenting. I love the idea of learning how to parent our children by teaching them to be responsible for themselves and to themselves and teaching proper Attitude, Behavior and Character for you personal family beliefs. Of course you will never agree 100% with all of someone elses ideas, especially about parenting, but this book gets me thinking and brain...more
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Have a New Kid by Friday: How to Change Your Child's Attitude, Behavior & Character in 5 Days (Paperback)
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Dr. Kevin Leman is an internationally recognized psychologist, author, and media personality. He was the first to popularize Adlerian psychological concepts in the United States, which are based on birth-order and family dynamics. Dr. Leman holds Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctorate degrees in clinical psychology from the University of Arizona.

Dr. Leman is the founder and president of "...more
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