OUR MISSION

To empower parents to think for themselves by teaching them a unique, reliable problem-solving method that helps them prevent common problems and find individualized solutions to parenting challenges based on each child and situation.

About the Universal Blueprint®

This once-secret step-by-step problem-solving system can support you in preventing common relationship challenges and plan an individualized effective response to each relationship challenge in minutes! Use it to improve your relationships with children and adults, at home, at work, and in the world.

Since 1992, tens of thousands of people from diverse backgrounds have learned the Universal Blueprint® System, which teaches not only relationship basics, but even highly advanced concepts and skills many counselors, therapists and family-service professionals don’t even know!

The Universal Blueprint® is based on 15 years of research and development and more than 15 years of field tests with thousands of parents and family professionals from diverse backgrounds.

This once-secret step-by-step problem-solving system can support you in preventing common relationship challenges and plan an individualized effective response to each relationship challenge in minutes! Use it to improve your relationships with children and adults, at home, at work, and in the world.

Since 1992, tens of thousands of people from diverse backgrounds have learned the Universal Blueprint® System, which teaches not only relationship basics, but even highly advanced concepts and skills many counselors, therapists and family-service professionals don’t even know!

The Universal Blueprint® is based on 15 years of research and development and more than 15 years of field tests with thousands of parents and family professionals from diverse backgrounds.

What Others Say About The Universal Blueprint®

Your ideas are consistent with other resources I’m familiar with, but there are some things in their books I disagree with and I get so frustrated picking and choosing and screening them. It is so nice to finally find a resource that has done that for me. I can completely trust that it is comprehensive and accurate.
Marla Hurst, parent, Adult Education teacher, OH
I do this program 5 days a week. Regular listeners to the program know that we have a lot of authors on the program. . . have for many years now. I don’t think I’ve ever seen – ever – any book as comprehensive. You can tell it’s a decade worth of work.
Dr. David McMillian, Host of Strategies for Living, KFLO-radio, Shreveport LA
The "Universal Blueprint®" is an innovative way to choose helpful responses to problems, including those in adult relationships! Most important, the advice is positive and trustworthy. I highly recommend reading this book.
Jane Nelsen, Ed.D., Author of Positive Discipline
I especially like the Universal Blueprint® formula. I can apply the skills in any situation and get the maximum use from them. I’ve used some of these skills separately before, but there always seems to be something that fell through the cracks. This pulls everything together.
Dorothy Scott, M.A.
At work, I have weekly, quarterly, and yearly goals. To achieve these goals, I develop a plan that I think (and hope) will work. I attend workshops, seminars, and classes to learn better methods to work my plan. The Universal Blueprint® formula has the same effect on working my parenting plan.
Rich Munn, OH
I think you have done a wonderful job with this material. The part of the material that I responded to first was the model. It is a good way to organize the material. I think students, workshop participants, and readers in general will find it a helpful guide for selecting which materials relate to specific kinds of situations. A model, a map, a guide, an organizer, a conceptual framework—by whatever name one might want to call it, it will be helpful to parents who seek to access the wide, wide world of parenting ideas
Sandra Taylor, MSW, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work, University of Dayton
There’s so much about The Universal lueprint® that I like. As a parent, it is so easy to react to problems. This offers so many healthy alternatives. As a counselor, I like the way I can apply the process to all elationships. There were so many things that even as a therapist, with all the training I’ve had, that I didn’t realize—like the myths about timeouts. I’ve been giving the same kind of advice lots of other professionals give—and assumed it must be right, because so many people believed it. This was a real eye-opener.
Ken Rogiers, M.A., Lighthouse Christian Counseling, Inc., OH|
This is the most complete practical guide to human interaction I've ever read!
Wendy Adams
The simplistic brilliance of the Universal Blueprint® formula takes you by surprise once you start realizing that these tools really do make a difference. Not all at once but, day by day, situation by situation, that you handle a little or a lot, differently from before. It all adds up to a whole new way of lowering stress in your life, as well as those around you.
Don Coterel, OH
When I first heard of the Universal Blueprint, I thought, “Is this for real? It is too good to be true!” But I know from taking Jody’s class (twice!) that all the statements are true and her resources are fabulous!
Kay Lynch, Centerville, OH
Having the Universal Blueprint® on one page is brilliant! Jody has easy ways to learn and remember like acronyms and dances. It's taken a lifetime for her to come up with that and I love that we can reap the benefits of it.
Anjali Brannon, Beavercreek, OH
I love the Universal Blueprint®. It's not some nebulous idea of things the way they should be or you want them to be. It's all nice and black and white on paper. I can always go back to it to figure out where I've been and where I want to go.
Rachel Fuller, Beavercreek, OH

Research based. Proven results.

The Parents Toolshop®: The Universal Blueprint® for Building a Healthy Family Book

All our programs and resources are research-based. Curricula and resources carrying the Toolshop® brand also feature the Universal Blueprint® GPS (Guide to Parenting Success) System.

The Parents Toolshop® book is the result of an 8-year literature research project involving hundreds of research-based resources.

It was a top-three finalist for the Bill Fisher Award for “Best First Book by a New Author” and received the 2000 Seal of Approval from the National Parenting Center. It has also received endorsements and testimonials from top parenting experts, authors, parents, and family professionals nationwide and worldwide!

The Parent’s Toolshop® Curriculum

 

Based on the criteria set forth by the U.S. Dept. Of Health and Human Services, The Parents Toolshop® curriculum is a “Promising research-based program” that uses “solid research” methods to determine the outcomes of the program.

A 10-year outcome evaluation study with nearly 1300 parents of diverse backgrounds showed the curriculum got impressive results. 30+ years later, we still get similar outstanding results!

We now have several research-based parenting curricula: for foster-adoptive parents, trauma-informed parenting, Christian parents, Conscious parents, parents in recovery … and more.

Over the years, we have developed 100+ multi-media resources and courses that address nearly every parenting challenge. Check out our programs and resources for parents:

  • Universal Blueprint® Courses and resources
  • Done-4-You Parenting Solutions
  • Parents Tool Talk® free monthly webinars
  • Other Online Courses & Resources

What Others Say About The Parents Toolshop® Book

PARENTING EXPERTS

“An innovative way to choose helpful responses to almost any problem, including those in adult relationships! Most important, Pawel’s advice is positive and trustworthy. I highly recommend it.”
Jane Nelsen, Ed.D., author of Positive Discipline
This is a fabulous resource for any parent. If you read this comprehensive book, you’ll likely have enough information to qualify for a B.A. in parenting from any university!”
Jack Canfield, co-author of the New York Times #1 best-selling Chicken Soup for the Soul® series and President of Self-Esteem seminars and consulting
“A comprehensive and valuable resource for parents, teachers, counselors–anyone who works with children. A must for every parenting library.”
Barbara Coloroso, author of Kids are Worth It! and Parenting with Wit and Wisdom in Times of Chaos and Loss

PARENTS

This book is incredible. Every chapter is so comprehensive. I learn so much. When I finish a chapter I think the next one can’t possibly be as good – – but it always is! I’ve read many books by the likes of Scott Peck, Stephen Covey and Melody Beattie. The Parent’s Toolshop pulls it all together and shows you how to live these revelations. This book is not just about parenting.
Jeff Smith, OH
Your book is fantastic! It makes so much sense! The "blueprint" form of your book is ideal! What relationship would not be improved by this respectful, yet straight forward, approach? I can't put the book down for long......what a gift this is!
Lauri Orr, Oregon
I can’t wait to read the book again – and again. There’s so much in it, I want to digest it all. Every time I read it; new things jump out at me that I didn’t notice the first time. There were some sentences and sections that were so powerful that I just had to put the book down and think about what was said for a while. That’s how awesome some of the concepts are. This book and class have changed my life, every area of it, for the better.
Rita James, Springboro, Ohio
If there was an instruction manual for parents, this would be it!
Eileen Jackson, Bellbrook, Ohio
I can’t thank you enough for The Parents Toolshop®. It is one of the most wonderful books I’ve seen. It is logically clear and easy to memorize but also talks about feelings, psychology, and family issues. It also shows your wonderful personality, too. My relationship with my son was suffering because I didn’t know how to discipline him. Then, as I read your articles and book, I’d stop and say to myself, “Oh, this is so right! Thank you Jody!” Your approach gives real results, good feelings, and confidence. It has healed our relationship and my son is starting to appreciate me. Sometimes he says that I am the best mother!
Ester Notik, Israel

PROFESSIONALS

The Parent’s Toolshop® is dynamite! It’s packed with tons of practical ideas. I keep it by my bedside and recommend it to the parents with whom I work.
Dr. Dennis O’Grady, founder of New Insights Consulting Services and author of Taking the Fear out of Changing“
Out of all the books I have and research I’ve done, yours is the best one and puts it all in order!
Diana Santiago Rice, Masters Student in Mental Health Counseling @ Nova Southeast University
One of the best books for parents that I have seen is The Parent’s Toolshop® by Jody Pawel. I use it as an undergraduate textbook in my Parenting and Family Relations class and recommend it to parents as well.
Heidi E. Stolz, Ph.D., Co-Director, Center for Parenting, University of Tennessee
This book presents a practical, positive approach to working and living with children. I recommend it highly to parents, teachers, and any person who touches the life of a child. I wish this book had been available when my son was a child
Elizabeth M. Engelhardt, Administrator, St. Rita Child Care Center, Adjunct Faculty E.C.E., Clark State Community College, Springfield, Ohio.
I think you have done a wonderful job with this material. The part of the material that I responded to first was the model. It is a good way to organize the material. I think students, workshop participants, and readers in general will find it a helpful guide for selecting which materials relate to specific kinds of situations. A model, a map, a guide, an organizer, a conceptual framework — by whatever name one might want to call it, it will be helpful to parents who seek to access the wide, wide world of parenting ideas.
Sandra Taylor, MSW, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work, University of Dayton, Ohio.

About our founder:

One of only a few second-generation parenting educators in the world, involved in parent education since age 8.

Holds several degrees and credentials, including: Licensed Social Worker, Certified Family Life Educator, Certified Trauma Support Specialist, and Certified World Class Speaker Coach.

Author of more than 100 research-based multimedia resources.

Has personally trained more than 100,000 parents, child service professionals and family and parent educators worldwide.

A leader in the parent education field for more than 30 years.

  • National Council on Family Relations, CFLE
    • Author of NCFR textbook chapters and CFLE newsletter articles
    • Conference speaker, Focus Group Facilitator, Professional
    • Development Webinar presenter
  • National Parenting Education Network (NPEN)
    • Advisory Council & Guidance Team
    • Chair of Professional Preparation & Recognition Committee
    • Professional Competencies Committee
    • Para-professional Competencies & Diverse Roles Committee
    • Assessment of Evidence-based Parenting Programs Committee
    • Founder/Chair Monthly Membership Webinar Committee
  • Family Life Coaching Association (FLCA)
    • Membership Committee

Jody Johnston Pawel, LSW, CFLE, CTSS

PARENTING EXPERT TO THE MEDIA

Jody Has Been Featured in over 500 Media Appearances