# What's the straight dope on "The total transformation program"?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-straight-dope-on-the-total-transformation-program/521497>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 16, 2009, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-straight-dope-on-the-total-transformation-program/521497 "2009-12-16T17:42:49Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![kmgraves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ea666f/32.png) [@kmgraves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kmgraves)\
**Post date:** [December 16, 2009, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-straight-dope-on-the-total-transformation-program/521497/1 "2009-12-16T17:42:49Z")

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Is this program a scam? It appears that some reviews are _planted_.\*\*

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**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\
**Post date:** [December 16, 2009, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-straight-dope-on-the-total-transformation-program/521497/2 "2009-12-16T19:54:49Z")

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At least give us a link or a description

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**Author:** ![pan1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e495f1/32.png) [@pan1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pan1)\
**Post date:** [December 16, 2009, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-straight-dope-on-the-total-transformation-program/521497/3 "2009-12-16T20:00:19Z")

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I think Scam is an overly harsh word.

Useful may be overly generous.

It’s certainly a profiteering project more than a parenting program. But as far as I can tell it will actually provide you with a parenting program for a price.

“parenting for dummies” is probably a better investment if you need help.

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**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\
**Post date:** [December 16, 2009, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-straight-dope-on-the-total-transformation-program/521497/4 "2009-12-16T20:38:55Z")

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Here’s a [link](http://www.thetotaltransformation.com/) to the official website

Of course you must realize this is a commercial website and they are trying to sell you their program. So read it with that in mind

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**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\
**Post date:** [December 16, 2009, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-straight-dope-on-the-total-transformation-program/521497/5 "2009-12-16T21:45:35Z")

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There was a thread about this a few months ago (I was the OP), and the general consensus was that this program teaches you, at a steep price, basic parenting skills that you can learn for free at the local public library.

Some of the major points include:  
[ul]  
[li]Make sure that you act as the _parent_ and not as the child’s _buddy_.[/li][li]Do not give in to arguing.[/li][li]Do not negotiate.[/li][li]Etc. etc. etc.[/li][/ul]