Parents and teachers often go to great lengths to figure out what behavioral technique – punishment or praise, carrot or stick, consequence, time-out or reward –is going to be most effective. What’s meant by “most effective” is: what will deliver the greatest ability to influence our child’s or teenager’s behavior so that it falls more in line with what we want it to be. Read on…you may be surprised to discover what what really works.

Sometimes our kids can say something that lands right in our Achilles heel - what should we do in these situations?

Emotions are so important. Attachment is so important. Sometimes emotions come out in ways that threaten our connection with our child - what should we do then?

There are three types of play that can help vent frustration.

With steadfast warmth and patience, defenses can melt.

Gentleness and kind persuasion win where force and bluster fail.