Blog
Social Media & Youth Mental Health: Understanding the Connection and the AAP’s “5 C’s for Media Use”
A research study published 7/21/2025 surveyed over 1000 individuals who were 18 to 24 years old. They asked them, “When did you get a smartphone?” and about a whole host of mental health symptoms. (See news stories on Good Morning America, CNN, and CBS, Scripps News.) The study found that children who start using smartphones …
How Can Stay At Home Parents Dealing With Loneliness Create Their Own Support Systems?
“Today’s stay-at-home parents are bringing professional skills to one of the toughest jobs out there—parenting. But without the built-in support networks of the workplace or nearby family, many are finding that connection and community are just as essential at home as they were on the job.”
Why Parenting Education Matters (and How You Can Help Make It More Accessible)
Research shows parenting education can prevent and improve many problems families and society experience. Yet, many people don’t know it exists, think it’s only for “bad” parents, that anyone can be a “parenting expert,” or that professionals like therapists and pediatricians have been trained in effective parenting skills. None of those are true!
Are Your Children Lying? Why Children Lie and How Can You Encourage Truthfulness?
Kimberly wants her children to be honest, but sometimes she accidentally models lying or responds to lies in ways that accidentally perpetuate the problem. For example, When a salesperson calls, Kimberly has her children tell them she is not home. When she’s at a restaurant, she lies about her children’s ages to let them eat …
Are Your Children Lying? Why Children Lie and How Can You Encourage Truthfulness? Read More »
The NeXt GenerationZ Parents
Parenting is a lifelong journey of self-improvement. Our children teach us so much, just as did our parents. We have a daily decision to make, to unconsciously parent based on how we were parented, for better or worse, to wait for problems to arise and then react to them with trial and error, or to …
How to Get Kids to Turn Screens Off and Turn On to Life
When you were young, before you had 24-hour access to a cell phone, social media or computer, what did you do? How much time you spend each day outside, doing something physical, or with other kids? Did you ever read a book under a shade tree, fall asleep, and take a nap in the breeze? …
How to Get Kids to Turn Screens Off and Turn On to Life Read More »
Funding for Parents Toolshop® Services in Ohio Sought
The Parents Toolshop® is not just an award-winning book; it’s an evidence-based parent education program with 30 years of outstanding results with over 100,000 parents and professionals worldwide — and continuously in Ohio. Our original funder said of other programs, “Our statistics show that none have even come close to achieving the results your classes …
Funding for Parents Toolshop® Services in Ohio Sought Read More »
Potty Trained or Parent Trained?
Is There a Difference Between Potty Training Boys vs. Potty Training Girls? “Lexi is already pooping and peeing on the potty and she won’t even be one until next month,” Crystal tells the other moms at their weekly playdate. “Well, I’ve heard potty training girls is easier than potty training boys” Valerie pipes in. “You …
BEDTIME IS A NIGHTMARE . . . HELP! TIPS FOR MAKING BEDTIME PEACEFUL
BEDTIME IS A NIGHTMARE . . . HELP! TIPS FOR MAKING BEDTIME PEACEFUL My three-year-old son is very active and gets more so around bedtime. We have a bedtime routine that begins at 8:30 p.m. and includes a bath, healthy snack, storytelling, teeth-brushing and three books. After I turn out the lights, I sit by …
BEDTIME IS A NIGHTMARE . . . HELP! TIPS FOR MAKING BEDTIME PEACEFUL Read More »
What Are Parenting “Best Practices”?
We, at Parents Toolshop® — well, actually every parenting division of our parent company, Relationship Toolshop® International Training Institute, LLC — adhere to and promise to only teach you “research-based, trauma-informed best practices” in parenting. Yes, even if your child does not have a known trauma history, it’s important you know and use these parenting …
The Problem with I-messages
The Problem with “I-messages” … is that even “effective” tools can be misused and made ineffective. This article explains how and what to say instead, to avoid lectures, guilt trips and other unintentional outcomes of I-messages, like rolling eyes and closed ears.
Table of Contents – The Parent’s Toolshop® book
Acknowledgments ……………………………………………………………………………….. vi-viii Introducing Your Toolshop Tour Guide…………………………………………….. ix-xiv Chapter 1: Touring The Parent’s Toolshop……………………………………………….. 1 Another Parenting Book? • What The Parent’s Toolshop Does • Suggestions for Use STEP A: PREVENTION TOOLBOX……………………………………………………………….. 19 Chapter 2: Foundation-Building Toolset…………………………………………………… 21 Establishing a Common Language • What Are Our Parenting Goals? • Parenting Styles • Parenting as …
How to Talk to Your Children About the Coronavirus without Scaring or Stressing Them
By now, most school-aged children have heard about the coronavirus, whether by overhearing the news, parents talking to others, other kids at school, or from school administrators when they temporarily close the school. Even homeschooling parents must address why they aren’t visiting libraries and other public places and events they frequent during homeschool activities. Everyone …
How to Talk to Your Children About the Coronavirus without Scaring or Stressing Them Read More »
Using Family Councils to Problem-Solve, Make Decisions & Build Closer Relationships
Fred and Tammy are both hesitant about using family councils, but for different reasons. When Fred was growing up, they had family meetings where the kids would vote on decisions. Sometimes he and his two siblings were able to “stack the vote” against their parents, so they’d be sure to get what they wanted. Other …
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Disciplining Children
SO many parents start talking about discipline right off the bat when parenting topics arise. It almost doesn’t matter what someone is talking about, if it’s a parenting topic, just hold your breath and the topic of discipline will come up before you turn blue! When the topic of discipline comes up, it’s a HOT …
How Do I Get My Toddler to Stop Nose Picking?
How Do I Get My Toddler to Stop Nose Picking? Kara smacks down her two-year-old son’s hand down as he picks his noses. “Stop picking your nose,” she scolds him as she helps him put his coat on. This is the third time she’s caught him doing this disgusting habit today. He doesn’t seem …
How Can Do I Keep My Child’s Hand Out of the Toddler Diaper?
How Can Do I Keep My Child’s Hand Out of the Toddler Diaper? “Gross! Stop doing that, Tommy!” yells Julie at her two- year- old son who has his hand down his diaper. Julie is disgusted and fed up with her son’s habit. He continues to put his hands down his toddler diaper no matter …
How Can Do I Keep My Child’s Hand Out of the Toddler Diaper? Read More »
How to Stop Thumb Sucking Ages 3 to 5?
How to Stop Thumb Sucking Ages 3 to 5? “Quit being such a baby,” Jamie scolds her three-year-old daughter, as she pulls her thumb out of her daughter’s mouth. As soon as Jamie looks away, her daughter pops her thumb back in her mouth. Jamie continues to pull out her daughter’s thumb while walking the …
How Can Conscious Parents Create and Keep Life Balance with Children?
As conscious parents, you have good intentions, but creating and keeping balance seems to take more effort and energy than you have and it feels like you are always one step behind. You wouldn’t trade your children or your life, but do feel guilty that you aren’t more calm, centered and present. You don’t want …
How Can Conscious Parents Create and Keep Life Balance with Children? Read More »
Why Conscious Parents Need to be Cautious
Are you a Conscious Parent or interested in conscious discipline for parents? (Here is an article with a conscious definition.) If so, then you need to be aware of some myths and misinformation “out there,” steering conscious parents into some practices that sound good, but can cause big problems later on. For example, parents will …
Which Trigger Buttons do your Children Push to Make You Angry?
Your children probably have a way of “pushing your buttons,” even if it’s not their intention to do so (at least not at first). When they do, you probably get angry, even if you don’t show it. How would you like to get rid of them!? No, not your children! The trigger buttons! Look, your …
Which Trigger Buttons do your Children Push to Make You Angry? Read More »
Are you Really a Conscious Parent? Here are 5 Little-known facts that play a BIG role in your parenting.
Are you Really a Conscious Parent? 5 Little-known Facts that play a BIG role in your Parenting Have you ever thought about when you started your parenting journey? It wasn’t when you became a parent, but when you were born and your parents became parents. Your parenting decisions are based on your beliefs, most which …
What is a Conscious Parent? Are You One? Do You Want to be One?
Do you consider yourself to be a Conscious Parent? It probably depends on your definition, right? The Conscious Parents Toolshop® defines conscious parenting from a 4-D perspective, looking at the following four aspects: Which mind are you using when you parent: the conscious or subconscious mind? The subconscious mind operates on old programming, where the …
What is a Conscious Parent? Are You One? Do You Want to be One? Read More »
School Topic Article Series
Here are links to the articles Parents Toolshop® offers on school issues: · How Can My Family Get Back Into The School Routine Successfully? · School Age Child Development Stages: What are 10 Tips for Kindergarten Readiness? · What is the Recipe for Success in School? · Back to School Tips for Teens Entering High …
Holiday Tips
Here is a list of all the Parents Toolshop ® holiday-related articles. They are packed with tips to get you through this hectic time of year so you can spend more time with your family creating special memories to cherish for years to come. How Do You Teach Children To Have An Attitude Of Gratitude …