Calmer , Easier, Happier Books by Noel Janis -Norton – Book Reviews

One of my favourite parenting authors from last year was Noel Janis-Norton. She is a learning and behaviour specialist with over 45 years’ experience in Britain and United States as a head teacher, special needs advisor, consultant, lecturer, parenting coach , speaker and of course author too , helping parents and teachers learn effective  techniques  that result in more confident and motivated children both at home and in the classroom.

Noël is a regular speaker at conferences and has been featured on television and radio programmes and in newspaper and magazine articles. Many of her books have been translated into other languages.

For many years Noël has been fascinated by how to help children learn to do their best and be their best. Her parenting and teaching programmes were developed through study and research, and also through her own experiences as a mother, foster parent, grandparent and teacher. She is a keen observer of exactly what parents and teachers do, how they do it, and what the results are, both short and long term.

“As the founder and director of ‘Calmer, Easier, Happier Parenting and Teaching’, a global not-for-profit consultancy and training organisation, she is internationally renowned. The ‘Calmer, Easier, Happier’ method is a practical, solution-focused approach that helps parents and teachers address and resolve typical and atypical issues of children and teens. Noël’s distinctive methods show parents how to improve family life and also guide teachers to bring out the best in their pupils.

Parents and teachers from around the world love the positive, firm and consistent approach that Noël explains in her books, in her parenting and teaching programmes, on the ‘Calmer, Easier, Happier Parenting and Teaching’ website, on her Facebook page and on her YouTube channel. All of the resources that Noël shares are a refreshing mixture of common sense about children, extensive knowledge of child development, and expertise in specific difficulties with learning and behaviour. “

She has written four books – Calmer, Easier Happier Parenting , Calmer , Easier , Happier Homework , Calmer , Easier Happier Boys and Calmer, Easier, Happier Screen Time.

Below you will find a short review of each book, except the one for homework, as my children do not go to school, so I didn’t feel it was relevant to me. All her books are for parents of children aged 3-13.

1) Calmer, Easier, Happier Boys: The revolutionary programme that transforms family life

” In Calmer Easier Happier Boys, parenting expert Noel Janis-Norton explains simple strategies for the unique challenges of raising motivated, cooperative and confident boys. Using the foolproof techniques Noel has developed over many years of working with families, parents can get back in charge. Living with boys can become calmer, easier and happier.

This useful and highly readable book tackles:
– Self-reliance and common sense
– Concentration and impulse control
– Defiance, disrespect or aggression
– Social skills and peer relationships
– Dependency on electronics
– Homework and academic success
– Empathy and consideration for others
– Helping around the home

This book is full of practical advice and various techniques which can be, in my opinion , used both for boys and girls.  Norton looks at the main concerns usually associated with boys , such as too much energy, including restlessness, short attention span, immature impulse control/social skills/fine motor skills etc and gives strategies ( one of which is the Descriptive praise) on how to improve co operation, politeness, self reliance, ways to reduce physical aggression, complaining and arguing. I have myself been using her Descriptive Praise and I can honestly say that it has improved the way I parent my children, not just only my boys , but also my girls. Norton gives as well an incredible insight  into the importance of special time, ideas as well on what to do during that time and how to use special time to teach and train important values, habits and skills.  The book also looks at how to make homework and home learning more enjoyable and productive and ways to improve literacy and thinking skills.  It is a must read for any parent, both mums and dads. Calmer, Easier , Happier boys can be bought from Amazon- https://amzn.to/2TQDDRc

2)Calmer Easier Happier Screen Time

” Do you constantly find yourself battling to stop your kids spending hours in front of a screen? Whether it’s a tv, an ipad, a pc or a playstation children are spending more and more time absorbed in the digital world and for most parents it’s a cause for concern.
The most frequent question parenting expert Noel Janis Norton is asked by desperate parents is how to limit and manage screen time. Parents know their children became aggressive and stressed after prolonged time on an electronic device, and they know that it limits their child’s willingness to do other activities, yet they are at a loss of what to do about it.

In Calmer Easier Happier Screen Time, Noel adapts her proven parenting strategies to this most complex of areas. Using the latest scientific research to show just how addictive the digital world can be for the developing brain of a child, she using the calmer, easier, happier techniques to help parents wean their children away from their electronic devices and get back in charge “

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and in my opinion, it is one of the best books on screen time, that promotes balance and not extremes. The book is divided into three sections:

Section 1 looks at why parents need to get back in charge, the four screen issues, the negative effects of screen time and why it can be so addictive.

Section 2 – Norton gives suggestions and various techniques on how to get back in charge of the electronics in your home. She puts emphasis on using screen time as a reward and gives ideas on how to introduce the plan to your child.

Section 3 – you will learn how Norton’s stratagies ( such as descriptive praise and reflective listening ) will make the new screen habits easier to establish.

This is truly a concise and practical book which looks not only at the research into the effects that screen usage (in all its forms – gaming, TV, social media) have on children, but also the practical steps to take to get back in charge. This book gives not just a theoretical model, but it’s a “real “ guide into how you as a parent can get in charge of your child’s screen time . I found the book very insightful and overall , it was a really great and easy read .

3)Calmer, Easier, Happier Parenting: The Revolutionary Programme That Transforms Family Life

“Finally, a revolutionary programme that gives you simple steps to take the daily battles out of parenting. These strategies resolve one of parents’ biggest frustrations: getting your children to listen and do what you ask, the first time you ask. When children are at their best, it is easy to get along with them and enjoy them. However, when they are defiant, argumentative or disrespectful, it is easy to get wound up, to argue back, threaten, nag or shout. If this sounds like the situation in your home too much of the time, then Calmer, Easier, Happier Parenting is for you. When you use these strategies, not only will your children become more cooperative, but also more confident, self-reliant and considerate. Learning new skills like Preparing for Success, Descriptive Praise and the Never Ask Twice method can transform your relationship with your child in a short space of time and help bring the joy back into family life.

Full of examples and real stories from parents, this book gives you clear step-by-step guidance to achieve Calmer, Easier, Happier Parenting. These strategies work! “

This is one very thick book for sure, it is over 400 pages along !!!! The book is divided into two sections:

Section 1 looks at various strategies for creating that calmer, easier and happier family life. Norton first examines the reasons as to what makes modern parenting so stressful and what we can all do about it. and how we can transform even the most frustrating aspects of parenting. In the section, she looks at the tools and various strategies that we as parents can use, such as descriptive praise , reflective listening ( how to minimise whingeing and misbehaviour by defusing frustration. anger and anxiety. Norton also writes about the “never ask twice ” rule . which is basically a six step method, created by her, that teaches children to do what you ask the first time you ask.

Section 2

In this section Norton explains how using the core strategies in the first section can improve various aspects in our lives such as- getting ready in the mornings, mealtimes, sibling relationships, screen time, homework, tidying up, household chores and how to improve willingness, playing independently and bedtimes and sleep.

The book is also jam packed with lots of interviews of families and how they used the techniques mentioned by Norton to improve the family dynamics.

What I love about this book is that there is no punishment, shaming or belittlement as is the case sadly with many parenting books these days. The examples of how children might react to the techniques are very realistic too. Norton gives simple and clear strategies for easier (not perfect!) parenting .I absolutely love the fact that the techniques treat children as human beings with specific emotional needs, rather than ignoring them .The author stresses throughout the book that none of these are immediate solutions, but will make life easier, calmer and better over time of consistent use. This is truly a great book to refer too and though it isn’t the one and only book you should have about parenting, it definitely should be part of your top 20 books on how to parent in a gentle, affectionate way toward raising cooperative, independent kids.

This post is in collaboration with a few other inspirational bloggers , who are also reviewing some fantastic books.

Muslim Mummy has written a review on a great children’s book . Have a read here – http://www.muslimmummies.com/2020/02/book-review-imagine-by-shoohada-khanom/

Umm Afraz Muhammed has written a review on the book Big Little Steps: A Woman’s Guide to Finding a Balanced Lifestyle and a Glowing Heart in Islam –https://ummafrazblog.wordpress.com/2020/02/17/big-little-steps-by-mathilde-loujayne/

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