As a parent of a 3 year old boy, I can tell you you may as well read it 8, 5, 6, 3, 1, 2, 4 for all the difference it makes. When his sister destroys his latest Lego construction, no amount of mirroring will stop him from having the mother of all tantrums.

Agreed. One of the first things you learn as a parent is that all children are different and not all the advice that gets heaped on you will work. (Though the advice givers are usually certain that it will).

In fact, the constant advice and even "you're doing it wrong" comments are one of the more frustrating parts of being a parent. I was quite disturbed when my friends started having children and I found myself trying to give them advice -- I now force myself to just keep quiet most of the time.