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Parenting Resources

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The Better Behavior Wheel is a great tool for helping you set-and stick to-limits and consequences. It provides options for you that are "natural consequences" meaning the consequence fits the offense. You can add your own rules, consequences, and even rewards. You can edit what's there to make it just right for your own family.

"The Wheel of Just Desserts" is important as well. This is what the kids spin when they have done something you want to reward them for. Again, edit what's there or create your own!

When kids do not meet the expectation, just say, "Go spin the wheel!" No arguing necessary! When they do something great, say, "Go spin the wheel of just desserts!" You'll encourage them to work hard and do what's expected.

The Better Behavior Wheel is easy to use and does not require creating a complex system of interventions. For busy families who want to enjoy time together doing fun things instead of disciplining kids, this is a great tool. I like the "virtual" version, but love the entire concept because it's EASY, and EFFECTIVE.
 

Books

Click on the title to link to Amazon.com for more information about the book.

John Gottman, marital and family researcher, helps parents teach their children to handle emotions effectively. With all of the ups and downs of growing up, being able to understand and manage feelings is a skill that is priceless. The skills he teaches are timeless and will help parents be their child's "emotion coach" with tools that will last a lifetime.

Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish (1999)

Thomas W. Phelan (2004)

By Foster Cline, Jim Fay (2006) This is an updated version of this classic parenting book. It is practical and makes so much sense. The authors help parents use natural consequences and avoid emotional outbursts that only makes situations with children worse. A great resource. We also recommend classes on the "Love and Logic" method if they are available in your community.

Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell (1997)
"The Five Love Languages for Children" is a book for parents who want to show their children that they love them but wonder if their children REALLY know. It may sometimes feel like you and your children are speaking a different language when you are trying your best to be the best parent you can be. The reality is that unless your children know you love them, not much else that you do matters. An excellent book that could change the way you show your love!

Early Intervention Resources

Beyond Play-Resources including books and games for young children with special needs

Brookes Publishing Company-Early intervention resources, especially for professionals

This book was developed for teaching social skills to children on the autistic spectrum, but is useful for teaching social skills to all children who benefit from visual prompts. There are "snapshot" like pictures presented with captions to portray the right way vs. the wrong way to handle various social situations. Those situations include: interrupting, joining play, sharing, turn-taking, dealing with losing, accpeting "no" for an answer, dealing with mistakes, trying something new, dealing with teasing, and starting and ending conversations. This resource can be useful for children ages 4-12 and children tend to enjoy looking at the pictures and captions.

This book offers guidance to parents dealing with a child who is struggling with oppositional behaviors. There are explanations for defiance and clearly laid out suggestions in an 8-step model of how to resolve the defiance. The book includes practical charts, questionnaires and checklists to help get your child's behavior back on track and reduce family stress overall. The program emphasizes consistency and cooperation that prompts changes through a behavioral system of praise, rewards and mild punishment.

This is an easy-to-read book with many important developmental topics that parents frequently have questions about. It is a useful tool to pick up and treat like a maunal, depending on the current issue you may be questioning as a parent. Topics include effective discipline, communication with your child, parent coping skills, bedtime, aggression, whining and tantrums, divorce and many other topics. This book is for parents with children from babyhood through the school years and the advice is based on professional experience and research and promoted by the American Psychological Association.

This practical book is for parents and teachers to use to help children get organized. This book is full of hands-on strategies to teach organizational skills to children. It includes strategies to organize backpacks, binders and work spaces and strategies to assist children in learning time management.