‘Over 20 years Dr Nigel Mellor has developed strategies that … effectively change the child's behaviour’ – The Independent

‘Full of hope … for parents [in] a desperate world. Advice is given with understanding, warmth and a real appreciation of what life is like when you have an impossible child’ – Times Educational Supplement

‘A very practical, down-to-earth and humorous approach… techniques that harassed parents can use… this book is impressive’ – Educational Psychology in Practice

‘Extremely useful… I recommend this book as a manual for parenthood. Humour makes it an entertaining, yet informative read’ – The Teacher

‘Highly enjoyable…delivers key messages superbly well… points are delivered with warmth and sensitivity’ – British Journal of Special Education

‘Nigel Mellor's] techniques will help you to turn your child from a monster into an angel’ – Daily Express

‘Who's pulling the strings? … Strategies [for] exasperated parents’ – Yorkshire Post

‘They are driving parents mad … but there is a consistent approach that helps’ – Birmingham Post

‘Back to your granny's wise words - the book is packed with real life examples … [from] families and their moments of sheer desperation’ – Sheffield Star

‘The parents [Dr Mellor] sees are in a terrible state … [his] help is practical and focused on the future rather than past mistakes’ – Newcastle Journal

‘I immediately felt a lot of empathy. All in all an excellent book’ – Special

‘Up-front and practical approach to this all-encompassing challenge’ – Education and Health

‘A very valuable resource’ – Children are Unbeatable Alliance

‘Empowers parents … would be ideal at parent workshops’ – Special Needs Information Press

‘A panacea for many parents … an immensely readable book’ – Young Minds

‘Nigel Mellor's easy-going and empathetic style of writing [is] both refreshing and eminently readable … the book is shot through with humour, modesty and encouragement and I highly recommend it’ – Contact a Family

‘This unique book provides… a practical guide packed with step-by- step instructions backed by a wealth of examples drawn from real families’ – My Weekly.

‘Insightful instruction … Nigel Mellor is an expert in attention seeking … timely and well written’ – Metro

The author of the best-selling book, Attention Seeking, gets right to the heart of these topics in a way that readers can quickly grasp.

Each topic is explained and followed by a discussion and advice on ways to troubleshoot the problem. Topics covered include:

misbehaviour; praise; punishment; ignoring.

The book provides parents, teachers and psychologists with a user-friendly, practical guide to the perplexing problem of attention seeking. Sharing this book will allow parents and professionals to go forward and plan for improved behaviour.

The good the bad and the irritating

Trouble-Shooting Praise

Trouble-shooting praise
  • Simply keeping going, hanging on to your positive image of the child, even through all the storms of running a programme like this is intensely difficult. We saw how Bob Norton, who we met earlier, caused his parents six weeks of hell. Mrs Norton, recalled, however:

    “He looks like an angel when he's asleep. I go and give him a hug and he puts his arms around me. He's not really bad. I can't be negative. That's the only thing that keeps me going. He gives me a hug and says “I love you.””

  • The commonest problem we find in examining parents’ feedback, is just not giving enough praise. Simply forgetting. Each day, think back over what you have done. If you ...
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