A Trauma-Informed Holiday: Supporting Families Through Triggers and Grief
Learn trauma-informed holiday strategies to support families through grief, triggers, and stress. Practical tips for parents, foster-adoptive families, and professionals.
Parenting Tools
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 …
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 …
Effective Problem Solving Strategies: How Do You Teach Children To Responsibly Solve Their Own Problems?
“I don’t know what’s up with my friends lately. It seems they never have time to hang out and do anything I think will be fun,” David complains to his mom, Chloe. “Well there is so much you can do on your own, David. What do you need your friends for? Why don’t you go …
Rewards & Bribes
“Come on, Johnny! P-L-E-A-S-E!?” … {PAUSE} … {repeat 3-10 times} … “I’ll give you a ______ if you do it!” Many parents reward children’s good behavior or use bribes to entice children to cooperate. Such rewards can easily turn into bribes. Bribes are gifts or payments which manipulate or influence someone to take a particular action. Rewards …
Why Kids Misbehave… and What You Can Do to Prevent and Stop It
When children misbehave, our gut reaction is to do whatever we can to stop it and stop it fast! There are three big problems with this approach: Misbehavior is only a symptom of a deeper core issue that the child is expressing in a negative way. If you only try to stop the misbehavior but don’t identify …
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Why Kids Do What You Tell Them Not to Do? How to Prevent Defiant Children, Power Struggles and Tantrums
The “Before” Story usually sounds like this: My kids have been doing [you name it] for years. I constantly tell them “don’t,” “stop” or “quit doing that”. I’ve told them a million times and they still do it! I don’t know if they are defiant children, but I’m tired of the power struggles and handling …
Why Children “Misbehave”… and What You Can Do to Prevent and Stop It
When children behave in problematic ways, Americans usually call that “misbehavior.” In some countries and cultures, there is no such word; all problematic behavior is seen as the child not knowing better and the parents’ are viewed as responsible for teaching children proper behavior, setting boundaries while they are learning, and redirecting improper behavior rather …
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Looking for Bedtime Routines To Make Bedtime Peaceful?
It’s time for your children to get ready for bed. You say, “Time to go brush your teeth.” One whines, “But I don’t want to brush my teeth.” The other says, “I want to keep playing.” Your spouse steps in and says, “You both need to get in the bathroom and start brushing those teeth.” …
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Can Anger Management Techniques Help Stop Aggressive Behavior In Children?
Your child is playing soccer with some friends and all of a sudden you see him shove one of the other children to the ground and kick him. You have taught him anger management techniques and you have seen him control his anger in the past so this takes you by surprise. You run …
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Is Giving An Allowance For Helping With The Household Chore List A Good Way To Teach Children And Teenagers Money Management?
Is Giving An Allowance For Helping With The Household Chore List A Good Way To Teach Children And Teenagers Money Management? You have been giving your children money for doing chores. You have company coming over and need to get the house straightened up quickly. You ask the children to help pick up the living …
Can Daily Affirmations Help You Achieve New Year s Eve Resolutions — or ANY Goal?
The clock strikes midnight. Everyone cheers and is merry. A New Year has just begun. Your friends and family are taking turns sharing their New Year s Eve Resolutions. When it is your turn, you tell everyone, “This year I am going to get fit & trim down. I’m going to learn to knit and …
Can Daily Affirmations Help You Achieve New Year s Eve Resolutions — or ANY Goal? Read More »