The Behavior Blueprint with Mandy Grass

If you've ever looked at your child's report card and known they are working twice as hard just to keep their head above water, this episode is for you. Mandy puts on her former special education teacher hat to share her own childhood dyslexia journey, as she gives the blueprint for navigating the confusing world of school evaluations and supports. Learn about the critical differences between an IEP and a 504 Plan and why public education is designed for access, not optimization. Get a guide on what to do when your child is stuck in the middle or is a one of the "cuspers," and find out how to advocate for them even when the school says they are "doing fine." Tools & Resources Website:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠thefamilybehaviorist.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Social Media: Follow @TheFamilyBehaviorist on⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠ and⁠⁠ TikTok⁠⁠. Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a review! Your feedback helps other parents find the show and lets Mandy know what topics are landing for you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Have you ever given your kids a chore to do, only to find the laundry hidden behind a dresser or the toys shoved into random corners? You are definitely not alone. In a special live coaching episode, Mandy sits down with Sarah, a mom of three and a public school superintendent, to troubleshoot her family's chore routines. Sarah previously used Mandy's strategies to fix a severe bedtime battle in just three days, and now she is back to figure out how to get her kids to unload the dishwasher, put away clothes, and clean the playroom without endless complaining. Mandy provides a step-by-step blueprint to reduce chore-related power struggles, drop unrealistic expectations, and use visual tools to define exactly what "clean" actually means! Tools & Resources Website:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠thefamilybehaviorist.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Social Media: Follow @TheFamilyBehaviorist on⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠ and⁠⁠ TikTok⁠⁠. Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a review! Your feedback helps other parents find the show and lets Mandy know what topics are landing for you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you’ve ever thought, "I just don’t like my kid right now," know this...you aren’t alone and you shouldn’t feel guilty for it. Parenting is tough, especially when you find yourself caught in a cycle of tantrums, backtalk, and exhausting power struggles that leave you with a knot in your stomach at bedtime. On this episode, Mandy breaks down how to move from the seemingly neverending conflict to a place of proactive problem solving. Whether you are navigating a public meltdown at grandma’s house or a nightly standoff over the TV, Mandy provides a blueprint for shifting your focus from losing privileges to earning connection. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Do you find yourself caught in a cyclical argument over something completely provable? Lying can be one of the most triggering behaviors for parents, but it’s often a child's most effective tool for getting what they want or avoiding what they don't. In this episode, Mandy breaks down the "why" behind the lies. Mandy shares strategies from her own blended family, that will give you the blueprint towards the truth! Whether you're dealing with a preschooler sneaking treats or a tween hiding a bad grade, this episode offers up strategies for creating a home where honesty feels safer than a lie. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is bedtime a battle in your house? From constant delay tactics to kids popping in and out of their rooms 400 times, sleep related behaviors can drive any parent to the brink of insanity. In this episode, Mandy lays out the bedtime blueprint, focusing on the routines and boundaries that happen before the lights go out! Tools & Resources Website:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠thefamilybehaviorist.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ Social Media: Follow @TheFamilyBehaviorist on⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠ and⁠⁠ TikTok⁠⁠. Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a review! Your feedback helps other parents find the show and lets Mandy know what topics are landing for you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Have you ever wondered what is actually going through your child’s mind when they get distracted, overwhelmed, or stuck in a cycle of anxiety? In this special episode, Mandy is joined by a very important guest: her nine-year-old daughter, Lola! Lola gets incredibly honest about her journey with ADHD and anxiety, offering a rare look at the kid perspective on diagnosis, medication, and parenting. This conversation is a beautiful blueprint for how to build trust, foster self-esteem, and work together as a family to overcome these all too common challenges. Tools & Resources Website:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠thefamilybehaviorist.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ Social Media: Follow @TheFamilyBehaviorist on⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠ and⁠⁠ TikTok⁠⁠. Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a review! Your feedback helps other parents find the show and lets Mandy know what topics are landing for you. This episode is sponsored by Care.com. Use code BEHAVIOR for 20% off a Care.com membership or a Senior Care Advisor plan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Does it feel like you’re playing hostage negotiator in your kitchen every morning before everyone is out the door? Whether it’s one child breathing "too loudly" or a battle over a toy no one cared about three seconds ago, sibling conflict can be A LOT. On this episode, Mandy breaks down what is actually driving those sibling squabbles and how parents accidentally keep the cycle going. From understanding the function of the fight to implementing group reinforcement systems, Mandy provides a blueprint to bring peace back to your home! Tools & Resources Website:⁠⁠ ⁠thefamilybehaviorist.com⁠⁠⁠ Social Media: Follow @TheFamilyBehaviorist on⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠ and⁠⁠ TikTok⁠⁠. Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a review! Your feedback helps other parents find the show and lets Mandy know what topics are landing for you. This episode is sponsored by Care.com. Use code BEHAVIOR for 20% off a Care.com membership or a Senior Care Advisor plan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If technology has become the biggest battle in your home and you find yourself negotiating screen time more than bedtime, this episode is for you. We’ve all been there...the timer goes off, you ask for the iPad, and suddenly it’s a total standoff. So why do our kids fight us so hard on this? In this episode, Mandy breaks down the behavioral science behind the screen time struggle. Learn why tech is the ultimate reinforcement and how the dopamine hit kids get from gaming and social media makes it nearly impossible for them to stop on their own. Enter the blueprint, a Screen Time Agreement that builds trust, teaches self-regulation, and brings peace back to your living room! Tools & Resources Website:⁠⁠ ⁠thefamilybehaviorist.com⁠⁠⁠ Social Media: Follow @TheFamilyBehaviorist on⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠ and⁠⁠ TikTok⁠⁠. Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a review! Your feedback helps other parents find the show and lets Mandy know what topics are landing for you. This episode is sponsored by Care.com. Use code BEHAVIOR for 20% off a Care.com membership or a Senior Care Advisor plan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Do you feel like your child only seems to "act out" the second you pick up your phone, start a conversation with another adult, or try to focus on a sibling? If it feels like you are constantly being pulled away from what you’re doing by disruptive behavior, this episode is for you. In this episode, Mandy explores one of the most common functions of behavior...attention. Find out why children often prefer "bad" attention (like a lecture or a reprimand) over no attention at all and why your reactions might accidentally be aiding the very behaviors you’re trying to stop. Whether you are dealing with a toddler who throws toys or a school-aged child who interrupts constantly, Mandy provides a blueprint to help you shift these behaviors towards a positive connection and independent play! Tools & Resources Website:⁠⁠ thefamilybehaviorist.com⁠⁠ Social Media: Follow @TheFamilyBehaviorist on⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠ and⁠⁠ TikTok⁠⁠. Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a review! Your feedback helps other parents find the show and lets Mandy know what topics are landing for you. Go to Care.com and use code BEHAVIOR for 20% off your initial Care.com subscription or a Senior Care Advisor Plan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you have a daughter who is bright, empathetic, and verbal, but constantly interrupts, struggles with emotional regulation, or seems easily distracted, this episode is for you! ADHD in girls often doesn't look like the stereotypical hyperactive image we expect, which means it frequently goes unnoticed or misunderstood. In this episode, Mandy dives into the unique ways ADHD presents in girls. from executive functioning deficits to the "embarrassment factor" that can lead to social masking. Find out why these girls are often mislabeled as "chatty" or "dramatic" and get actionable ways parents can provide the right support . Whether you are navigating a new diagnosis or just starting to look for patterns, Mandy provides a blueprint to help your daughter thrive! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you find yourself constantly saying, "we don't hit!" only to have it happen again five minutes later, this episode is for you! Hitting is a form of communication, and if we only focus on stopping the physical act, we are missing the most important part: why it’s happening in the first place. In this episode, we explore the four functions of behavior and how they apply to physical aggression. Of course there are the traditional consequences like lectures and time-outs, which often fail, so in this episode, Mandy breaks down how we can shift our focus toward teaching "replacement behaviors" that actually stick. Whether you are dealing with a toddler who swats when they are over-excited or children struggling with sibling conflict, this edition of the podcast has a blueprint to move from reactionary parenting to consistent, skill-based coaching! Tools & Resources ⁠The Family Behaviorist Club: Access the January resource—a customizable, printable visual schedule.⁠ Website:⁠ thefamilybehaviorist.com⁠ Social Media: Follow @TheFamilyBehaviorist on⁠ Instagram⁠ and⁠ TikTok⁠. Enjoyed this episode? Please leave a review! Your feedback helps other parents find the show and lets Mandy know what topics are landing for you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are your mornings more chaotic than routine? You aren’t alone. In this episode, we dive deep into why routines need regular maintenance and how to use tools like visual schedules, behavioral momentum, and Alexa reminders to take the mental load off parents. Mandy even gets real, revealing her own household’s recent "routine regression" and shares the exact behavioral strategies she used to get seven kids out the door and back on track! Whether you are dealing with a surly teenager who won’t wake up or a four-year-old who refuses to put on socks, this episode provides a step-by-step guide to resetting your morning with empathy, consistency, and maybe even some chocolate milk! Tools & Resources The Family Behaviorist Club: Access the January resource—a customizable, printable visual schedule. Skylight Calendar: Using visual lists and emojis to boost independence in younger children. Use the promo code: MandyG Visual Countdown Timer App: A free tool to help kids develop a concrete sense of time. Website: thefamilybehaviorist.com Social Media: Follow @TheFamilyBehaviorist on Instagram and TikTok. Enjoyed this episode? Please leave a review! Your feedback helps other parents find the show and lets Mandy know what topics are landing for you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you want to shape your child’s behavior instead of constantly reacting to it, you have to understand why it is happening. In this first episode of The Behavior Blueprint, board-certified behavior analyst and parent coach Mandy Grass introduces the framework that drives real behavior change by helping parents understand the function behind behavior. You will learn the four functions of behavior and how recognizing what a behavior is doing for a child helps you respond more intentionally, with fewer power struggles, less frustration, and a lot less guesswork. You will also get to know Mandy, her background in behavior analysis, and her life as a parent navigating a blended family of up to seven kids, where theory meets real life on a daily basis and humor is often required to survive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Behavior Blueprint: Real Talk for Real Families is a parenting podcast hosted by Mandy Grass, a board-certified behavior analyst and mom of 3, blended mom of 7. Through a mix of solo episodes and unscripted conversations with real parents and influencers, Mandy breaks down the why behind kids’ behavior and shares practical, science-backed strategies families can actually use, without judgment, gimmicks, or overwhelm. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices