5-Year-Old Parenting Tools

Five-year-olds are learning so many new things, like making friends, understanding feelings, and starting school. These experiences can be exciting and sometimes a little scary. Children can begin to understand and take care of their mental health by talking about emotions and learning simple ways to feel better.Children between the ages of five and ten are experiencing lots of changes as they grow, like learning new things in school, making friends, and understanding their feelings. These changes can sometimes feel big and even a little overwhelming, especially without tools to help manage emotions. Your support as a parent or someone in a parenting role is essential in helping them learn how to take care of their mental health and build strong emotional skills.Sometimes, tough things like family challenges or difficult experiences can affect a child’s mental health. Getting professional support can be helpful if your family is going through something challenging. The steps here, though, can guide you in helping your child develop everyday skills to handle feelings and build resilience. Why Mental Health?Mental health is just as important as physical health! Children face challenges like feeling nervous about school, getting frustrated with friends, or dealing with big feelings. Helping your child learn about mental health can help them:●      Feel calm and confident about handling their feelings●      Make and keep friends by learning empathy and kind communication●      Understand their own feelings and why they feel a certain wayYour child is learning to identify their feelings and find words to express them. Teaching emotional awareness helps them communicate effectively and prevents them from becoming overwhelmed by strong emotions. By learning simple coping strategies early on, your child can handle setbacks or disappointments more easily and develop confidence in their ability to manage difficult situations. The coping skills and emotional tools you help your child develop now can stay with them throughout their lives. Early mental health habits, like talking about feelings or using calming techniques[1] , set the stage for stronger mental health in adolescence and adulthood.By focusing on mental health at this stage, parents and those in a parenting role are helping their children feel supported, capable, and ready to handle whatever comes their way, creating a foundation for lifelong well-being.Five Steps for Mental HealthThese five steps can help your child build skills that support their mental health and make them more resilient.Tip: Intentional communication[2]  and actively growing a healthy parenting relationship[3]  will support these steps. Step 1: Get Your Child Thinking by Getting Their InputAsk your child questions to help them understand and express their feelings[4] . This process promotes self-awareness and encourages them to recognize emotions in others.Questions to Ask:●      “What made you happy or excited today?”●      “Did anything make you feel a little sad or frustrated?”●      “Is there something you felt worried about today?”●      “What do you think that person (or character in a book or on TV) is...

As a parent or someone in a parenting role, you play an essential role in your child’s success. There are intentional ways to grow a healthy parent-child relationship, and setting up a daily homework routine provides a perfect opportunity. Five to ten-year-olds are in the process of establishing critical learning habits, including how they approach homework, that will extend throughout their school years. For most children, homework is a nightly reality. Children with a parent or someone in a parenting role supporting learning at home and engaging in their school community have more consistent school attendance, better social skills, and higher grade point averages and test scores than those without such support. ^1^ Indeed, parental involvement best predicts students’ academic achievement.Yet, there are challenges. “I don’t want to do homework. I haven’t had any time to play,” might be a frequent complaint you hear from your seven-year-old. Your child may push back when they have other goals in mind. Their goal - “How can I play longer?” - is typical. A National Center on Families Learning study found that 60% of American families struggle to help children with homework.^2^ More than 25% admit that they struggle because they are too busy, up from just over 20% in 2013. Other reasons parents identified for having trouble with helping with homework were not understanding the subject matter (34%) and pushback from their kids (41%).^3^While getting a regular homework routine going might be a challenge, it can be a joyful experience that promotes valuable skills for school and life success. The steps below include specific, practical strategies and effective conversation starters to support a homework routine in cooperative ways that avoid a daily battle. Why Homework? Five and six-year-olds will be brand new to the homework experience, and you will have an opportunity to establish positive habits that will stay with them for years. Seven, eight, nine, and ten-year-olds will bring new academic challenges home, like reading with competence and learning fractions. Additionally, they may be expected to complete long-term projects. This will take a whole new level of planning and organization. In addition to reinforcing the lessons taught in the classroom, homework teaches students essential executive function skills, including the ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and execute tasks.  Homework is a reality for most students, and assignments can become challenging if regular routines are not established. Today, in the short term, establishing effective homework habits will create ●      greater cooperation and motivation●      more significant opportunities for connection and enjoyment as you implement your respective roles and feel set up for success●      trust in each other that you have the competence to complete your responsibilities with practice and care●      reduced frustrations from a lack of organization, space, or resources●      learning about your child’s school curriculumTomorrow, in the long term, homework helps your child●      build skills in collaboration and cooperative goal-setting ●      build skills in responsible decision-making, hard work, and persistence●      gains independence, life skills competence, and self-sufficiency●      develop positive learning habits that contribute directly to school successFive Steps for Creating a Homework RoutineThis five-step process helps your family establish a homework routine and builds essential skills in your

As a parent or someone in a parenting role, your influence is pivotal in your child’s success. There are intentional ways to foster a healthy parent-child relationship while instilling confidence in your child to persist toward their goals and succeed in all areas of life. Everyone faces challenges, yet mistakes and failures are necessary for your five-year-old’s learning and development. With your guidance and support, mistakes become a tool for learning and growing confidence. The key to any parenting issue is finding ways to communicate to meet your and your child’s needs. The steps below include specific, practical strategies and effective conversation starters to prepare you as you address any issue with your child.Why Any Issue?As you address any issues, you build the foundation for your child’s development. Your focus on cultivating a safe, trusting relationship and promoting life skills can create:●      greater opportunities for connection, cooperation, and enjoyment ●      trust in each other●      a sense of well-being and motivationEngaging in these five steps is an investment that builds your skills as an effective parent or someone in a parenting role to use on any issues and builds essential skills that will last a lifetime for your child. Throughout this tool, there are opportunities for children to:●      become more self-aware and deepen their social awareness ●      exercise their self-management skills●      build their relationship skills●      demonstrate and practice responsible decision-making and problem-solvingFive Steps for Any IssueThis five-step process helps you and your child with any issue. It builds critical life skills in your child. The same process can be used to address other specific parenting issues (learn more about the process[1] ).Whether it’s your child having difficulty meeting new friends or you are dealing with your feelings of inadequacy when trying to respond to your child’s frustration, these steps can be applied to any situation to support your child. You can tailor these questions and statements to match any arising issue.Tip: These steps are best done when you and your child are not tired or in a rush. Tip: Intentional communication[2]  and healthy parenting relationships[3]  will support these steps. Based on your child’s development milestones, you will want to focus on the following as you move through the five steps:●      supporting child’s  growing sense of autonomy - being able to do things or make basic decisions, like what to wear, on their own●      practicing consistency with expected behavior, rules, and consequences●      encouraging flexibility while supporting your child’s need for structure●      modeling positive social skills, responsible choices, and going easy on yourself when you make mistakes (noticing self-talk)●      supporting and offering ways to regulate strong emotionsStep 1. Get your Child Thinking by Getting Their InputGetting your child’s input will help you better understand their thoughts, feelings[4] , and challenges...

As a parent or someone in a parenting role, you play an essential role in your child’s success. There are intentional ways to grow a healthy parent-child relationship, and helping your five-year-old learn to deal with tantrums provides a perfect opportunity.   Children ages five to ten are in the process of learning about their strong feelings. They do not understand the full-body takeover that can occur when angry, hurt, or frustrated. A sense of a lack of control can be scary and add to the length and intensity of their upset. Tantrums and meltdowns can be overwhelming for children and the adults in their lives. Learning how to deal with anger or upset without choosing destructive responses is critical. Understanding the difference between a tantrum and a meltdown will help parents and those in a parenting role properly guide their children through these intense times. Your support and guidance matter greatly.Even though they may look like the same behaviors, tantrums and meltdowns are different and require different approaches to handle each. Tantrums are ●      a typical reaction or outburst to feeling anger or frustration ●      a cry for attention or an inability to communicate●      within a child’s scope of awareness and control●      goal-orientedA child throwing a tantrum is experiencing intense feelings and acting out in hopes of a desired outcome. Sensory meltdowns, like tantrums, are characterized by a child experiencing big feelings, but the difference is that the child is not acting out in search of a desired outcome. Meltdowns are ●      most common among children with sensory processing disorders, autism, or other medical issues who are easily overstimulated or cannot cope with emotional triggers such as fear or anxiety●      an instinctive survival reaction to being overstimulated or feeling distressed ●      not goal-oriented, meaning they are not affected by a reward system●      long-lasting●      children may never grow out of them like they do tantrumsTo a parent or someone in a parenting role, tantrums and meltdowns may seem like mischievous behaviors that the child needs to curb immediately. However, it is critical to remember that these outbursts are a child’s attempt to communicate something about their intense feelings. Parents and those in a parenting role can help guide their children through these feelings and teach them skills to manage them.Parents’ recognition and understanding of tantrums and meltdowns are essential for teaching children how to recognize and handle their big feelings.This tool is most applicable to parents handling children with tantrums. While many of the strategies for tantrums help children experiencing meltdowns, it is essential to note that meltdowns require immense patience, calm, and presence of mind to keep children safe. There are many helpful resources for parents of children with sensory processing challenges. A few resources about sensory meltdowns include:●      The Autism Speaks website has multiple articles and information on meltdowns. A simple search of “meltdowns” in the search bar brings up numerous options. https://www.autismspeaks.org/●      National Autistic Society, an organization in the United Kingdom, has a website that also provides multiple articles on meltdowns and dealing with anger and anxiety when “meltdowns” are...

Trust is an essential foundation for healthy relationships. As a parent or someone in a parenting role, you play an essential role in your five-year-old’s success. There are intentional ways to grow a healthy parent-child relationship and understand how to promote trust in your child.Lying represents an important milestone in your child’s thinking as they learn that others have different beliefs and perspectives than their own. Experimenting with lying is a typical part of a child’s development. Experimenting with lying is how they come to understand their perspective versus others’ and also how they test boundaries. Children ages five to ten are learning about the rules of school and family life. For your child to understand rules, they need to test them and sometimes break them. The key to many parenting challenges, like raising children who grow in their understanding of the value of truth-telling, is finding ways to communicate so that both your and your child’s needs are met. The steps below will prepare you to help your child learn more about your family values, how they relate to lying, and how you can grow and deepen your trusting relationship.Why Lying?Whether your five-year-old lies about eating their dinner when you can clearly see they have been stashing peas in their napkin, your seven-year-old telling their teacher they did their homework but left it at home when they didn’t, or your ten-year-old telling a friend they dance ballet when they’ve never tried it, your child’s ability to tell the truth can become a regular challenge if you don’t create plans and strategies.Today, in the short term, honesty can create●      greater opportunities for connection and enjoyment ●      trust in each other●      a sense of well-being for a parent and child●      added daily peace of mindTomorrow, in the long term, your child●      builds skills in self-awareness●      builds skills in social awareness, perspective-taking, empathy, and compassion●      builds skills in self-control●      develops moral and consequential thinking and decision-makingFive Steps for Teaching Your Child About HonestyThis five-step process helps you teach your child honesty and builds important skills. The same process can also be used to address other parenting issues (learn more about the process[1] ).Tip: These steps are best when you and your child are not tired or in a rush. Tip: Intentional communication[2]  and a healthy parenting relationship[3]  support these steps.Step 1. Get Your Child Thinking by Getting Their InputYou can get your child thinking about honesty by asking them open-ended questions. You’ll help prompt your child’s thinking. You’ll also better understand their thoughts, feelings, and challenges related to honesty so that you can address them. In gaining input, your child●      has the opportunity to become more aware of how they are thinking and feeling related to lies and truth●      can begin to formulate what it means to be in a trusting relationship●      can think through and problem-solve any temptations to lie they may encounter ahead of time●      has a greater stake in anything they’ve designed themself (and...

Five-year-olds must follow directions to succeed at home and school. Whether they are completing chores, following safety instructions, completing assignments, or showing their knowledge on tests, they must follow directions. Though telling your child to do something may seem simple enough, the process of a child listening and engaging in several steps given in an instruction necessitates several brain functions in addition to motivational factors. Children can vary widely in their ability to carry out instructions with accuracy. As a parent or someone in a parenting role, you can be deliberate in offering instructions to help your child follow directions. Understanding multiple-step directions engages their short-term and complex working memory, an executive function that requires practice and development over time. In the case of short-term memory, you might ask your child, “Would you grab the butter, eggs, and milk out of the refrigerator, please?” They must remember those three items as they move to the kitchen. In an academic setting, as another example, a teacher may say, “At the end of our class, I’ll give you time to take out your pencils, read the directions at the top of the page, and fill in only questions 3. and 5.” Students have to retain that information as the teacher moves on to other topics and also plan for what they will need to do when they come to the time when they have to implement the teacher’s instructions. This expectation utilizes complex working memory and can be challenging for students.^1^Following directions can involve all five core social and emotional competencies[1] . Children may need to be aware of their strengths and limitations (self-awareness) to complete the tasks given. They must use their self-management skills to wait and focus on what’s been instructed when necessary. They may require social awareness or empathy as they work to understand the needs, feelings, and thoughts of the one giving them directions. They will use their relationship skills by listening actively to what’s required. They will also use their responsible decision-making skills to decide whether and how to follow through with a request or instruction.Some parents and those in a parenting role may feel frustrated and even angry when their children do not follow their directions as they requested. A parent may perceive a child not following their directions as defiant or disrespectful, but there may be another reason for the behavior. There are several factors to consider when a child does not follow a direction. When faced with this situation, a parent may ask themselves:-       Does the child have the full capacity and skills to follow the directions? -       Does the child have any barriers to completing the tasks, including motivation or environmental issues (for example, a sibling distracting them)?-       Have you communicated how a child can best understand, listen, retain, and act successfully?Building a trusting relationship can provide the foundational safety and motivation for your child to follow directions. Using teachable moments that grow your child’s skills can be transformational in preparing your child to follow directions at home and school. The steps below include specific, practical strategies along with effective conversation starters. Why follow directions?When your five-year-old can’t seem to remember to brush their teeth before bedtime without multiple reminders, or your seven-year-old seems to forget what you’ve asked them to do the moment they leave your sight, or your ten-year-old is refusing to go to bed, these situations are opportunities to support your child in following directions. Today, in the short term,...

As a parent or someone in a parenting role, you play an essential role in your child’s success. There are intentional ways to grow a healthy parent-child relationship, and growing skills in reading is a great way to do it. Reading is essential for your child’s success in school. Reading also plays a critical role in your child’s●      social and emotional development[1] ●      language development●      executive functions like working memory and self-control ^1^●      connection to you●      empathy and understanding of others●      imagination (ability to “see” the story) ^2^  ●      ability to choose healthy behaviors (preventing high-risk behaviors and unhealthy choices)Children ages five to ten are in the process of learning how to read and establishing critical learning habits through reading that will extend throughout their school years. Reading is learned best on a lap, snuggled closely in the arms of parents, grandparents, and other loved ones. Reading aloud to children is the most important activity for building skills essential for reading success. ^3^Yet, anyone can face challenges in establishing a daily reading routine with their children. A national survey found that only 34% of families read to children daily.^4 Families today are busier than ever with more demands on their time. Children are highly entertained and stimulated by technology, so even if a family does prioritize reading, children might fight it. You might hear, “Do we have to?” when you announce reading time after dinner. While it may take more encouragement than past generations to start a daily reading routine with your child, it can be a joyful experience, enrich your family life, and promote valuable skills for school and life success. The steps below include specific, practical strategies and effective conversation starters to support family reading cooperatively.Why Reading?    Becoming intentional about a daily reading routine, looking for ways to incorporate reading into your time spent together, and considering the quality of the reading experience can all contribute to your child’s development. Today, in the short term, reading can create●      greater opportunities for connection and enjoyment ●      opportunity for dialogue and reflection●      a direct and simple way to influence your child’s positive developmentTomorrow, in the long term, reading helps your child●      build skills in collaboration and cooperative goal-setting●      build skills in hard work and persistence ●      develop empathy, creative thinking, and responsible decision-making skills●      create positive learning habits that contribute directly to school successFive Steps for ReadingThis five-step process helps your family establish a routine for daily reading and builds important skills in your child. The same process can also be used to address other parenting issues (learn more about the process)[2] .Tip: These steps are best when you and your child are not tired or in a rush. Tip: Intentional communication[3]  and a healthy...

As a parent or someone in a parenting role, you play an essential role in your child’s success. There are intentional ways to grow a healthy parent-child relationship, and helping your five-year-old develop their sharing, collaboration, turn-taking, and healthy friendship skills is a perfect opportunity.&nbsp;Children ages five to ten are in the process of learning about themselves, their strengths and limitations, why they feel the way they do, and how they relate to others. This is also known as their self-awareness.&nbsp;^1^&nbsp;They better understand themselves through interactions with you, their teachers, and their peers. Learning to share “stuff” in social play allows your child to naturally practice cooperation, negotiation, inclusion, communication, flexibility, conflict management, and diversity appreciation. Children utilize toys, art supplies, games, household objects, and more to exercise their social, emotional, and cognitive skills.&nbsp;Yet, there are challenges. Sensitivity over ownership and sharing is expected in your child’s development. Turn-taking and sharing can be a challenge. When your eight-year-old rips a ball away from a neighborhood friend, yelling, “That’s mine!” it can cause upset in their relationship. Connecting with and caring about others and their property is essential to your child’s development. Learning how you can support their growing friendships and their taking responsibility for the care of their possessions can help you feel more competent in your role as a parent. The steps below include specific, practical strategies to prepare you to help your child through the ups and downs of growing healthy friendships, learning to collaborate, taking turns, and sharing.Why Sharing?Whether it’s your five-year-old breaking down because their friend won’t share their Lego set or your ten-year-old obsessing over the presents they want for their birthday, your child’s relationship with “stuff” can become a daily challenge. As your child grows, the idea of sharing transitions from physical items to sharing power in the relationship and learning how to give and take. For example, this may look like who leads and who follows in play or how your child resolves disagreements on what to do with friends.&nbsp;Your child’s emerging ability to engage with peers and become part of a social community is essential to their development.&nbsp;Today, in the short term, sharing can create●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;opportunities for your child to build relationships with others●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;a growing sense of care for others●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;a sense of confidence that your child can manage a certain level of difficulty●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;a strong connection between you as you navigate these challenges togetherTomorrow, in the long term, your child●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;develops empathy●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;helps them see others’ perspectives●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;shifts their focus away from self to contributing to the well-being of their community●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;builds self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationships, and responsible decision-making skillsFive Steps for SharingThis five-step process helps you and your child through the ups and downs of growing healthy friendship skills like turn-taking and sharing. It also builds essential skills in your child. The same process can also be used to address other parenting issues (learn more about the process)[1]&nbsp;.Tip: These steps are best when you and your child are not tired or in a rush.&nbsp;Tip:&nbsp;Intentional communication<a href="about:blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

Why Repairing Harm?Five-year-olds are working on understanding and applying rules in various situations. They are seeking independence and will naturally test limits and break rules. When they do, they require guidance on how to repair harm caused to a relationship or item. This is a normal part of their development and necessary for their learning. Research confirms that children are in the process of developing higher-order thinking skills, such as consequential thinking and linking cause to effect. This directly impacts their school success and ability to take responsibility for their actions as they grow. Children need the guidance and support of caring adults to learn these skills.Step 1: Get Input- Get Your Child Thinking by Getting Their Input●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;You can ask them about how they are feeling.&nbsp;○&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“I noticed your face got red. So, when you said unkind things to your sister, were you frustrated?”&nbsp;○&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“I saw your friend leave you to play with someone else at the playground. I wonder if you are feeling sad?”●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;You can also ask them about how they think others might be feeling.○&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Your sister cried when you said those unkind words to her. How might she be feeling?”&nbsp;○&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“When your friend didn’t get to take their turn, how do you think they were feeling?”○&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“When you said that to me, how do you think that made me feel?”Trap:&nbsp;Avoid letting the question turn into an accusation. Remember to stay calm and that the goal of the question is to help your child uncover feelings.&nbsp;Step 2: Teach New Skills●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Understanding your own feelings and behaviors when your child misbehaves is a great way to start. It will help you know what your child is learning to do.●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Model behaviors (and your children will notice and learn!).●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Teach positive behaviors. Children need to learn the positive behavior that can replace inappropriate behavior.●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Create a calm-down plan. “What helps you feel better when you're sad, mad, or hurt?”●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Practice deep breathing to calm down.●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Brainstorm coping strategies and make a list together, such as hugging a pillow, reading a favorite book, walking outside, getting a glass of water, or listening to music.●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Work on your family feelings vocabulary. Use specific feelings words to describe your state of mind and help your child describe theirs.●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Teach assertive communication through I-messages such as “I feel _________(insert feeling word) when you______ (name the words or actions that upset you) because__________.”&nbsp;&nbsp;“I feel sad when you say hurtful things to your brother because it hurts his feelings.”Tip:&nbsp;Deep breathing removes the chemical that has flowed over your brain, allowing you to regain access to your creativity, language, and logic rather than staying stuck in your primal brain. Practicing deep breathing with your child can offer them a powerful tool anytime, anywhere, when they feel overwhelmed with heated emotions.&nbsp;Tip: Play feelings-guessing games with the family. At a meal, share facial expressions showing a range of emotions and guess which they are.&nbsp;&nbsp;Trap:&nbsp;Though it can sometimes feel like it, there are no “bad”...

Why Transform Disrespect?Five-year-olds seek independence and will naturally test limits and break rules. When they feel powerless and angry, they can lash out in ways that show disrespect for others. Though this is a normal part of their development and necessary for their learning, it can anger or worry a caring parent or someone in a parenting role. You can transform these moments into vital opportunities to teach children healthy and respectful alternatives.&nbsp;Step 1: Get Input- Get Your Child Thinking by Getting Their Input&nbsp;●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ask yourself, “Does my child have an unmet need?” Perhaps they are hungry or tired, need attention, or need downtime.●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Check on how you are feeling. If you are angry, frustrated, or overwhelmed, you may need to take a few minutes to collect yourself before engaging your child.●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ask your child how they are feeling.&nbsp;“I notice your face is red. Are you feeling frustrated?”&nbsp;Or&nbsp;“I saw your friend leave to go play with someone else. I wonder if you are feeling sad?”●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Use your best listening skills.Trap:&nbsp;Be sure you talk about disrespect at a calm time when you are not stressed or upset!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Step 2: Teach New Skills●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Learn together! Transforming disrespect requires dealing with challenging feelings in healthy ways and learning constructive ways to use and share power.●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Model respectful words and actions, and your children will notice and learn!●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Work on your family feelings vocabulary.●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Create a calm-down plan.●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Practice deep breathing to calm down.●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Teach assertive communication through I-messages such as “I feel _________(insert feeling word) when you______ (name the words or actions that upset you) because__________.”●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Teach your child positive ways to seek control or power.●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Teach your child to repair harm.●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;End the day with love. Often, when a child acts disrespectfully they feel bad about themselves; spend one-on-one time with your child to remind them they are loved no matter their choices.Tip:&nbsp;Create a signal you can use when you, your child, or both are overwhelmed by challenging feelings. You might say, “I need a minute!” or “Code red!” Practice using it so that it becomes a habit to pause when angry or upset before responding.&nbsp;&nbsp;Step 3: Practice to Grow Skill and Develop Habits●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Accept feelings&nbsp;(even ones you don’t like!):&nbsp;“I hear you’re upset. What can you do to help yourself feel better?”●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Use “Show me…” statements like&nbsp;“Show me how you can make a good choice when you talk to your sister.”●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Offer limited and authentic choices.&nbsp;“Do&nbsp;&nbsp;you want to do homework at the kitchen counter or the dining room table?”●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Share power through turn-taking or cooperative decision making as a family.●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Practice deep breathing. This is a simple practice your child can use to assist themselves anytime, anywhere.●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Follow through on repairing harm.●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Proactively remind:...

Why Chores?Chores allow your child to contribute to maintaining and caring for your family’s household. Daily chores allow your child to learn and practice valuable skills like timeliness, work ethic, and responsibility.&nbsp;Tip: These steps are done best when you and your child are not tired or in a rush.&nbsp;&nbsp;Tip: Intentional communication and a healthy parenting relationship support these steps.&nbsp;Step 1: Get Input- Get Your Child Thinking by Getting Their Input&nbsp;Consider what chores need to be done. You might start by thinking through the rooms in the house, beginning with your child’s room.&nbsp;●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“What must we do in your bedroom to keep it clean and ready to use?”●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“How should we deal with dirty clothes and prepare clean clothes for school?”●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“When and how do we prepare and eat family dinner together?”●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“When we are finished playing, how do we leave our play areas?”Tip:&nbsp;For 5-7-year-olds, Get paper and markers and have your child write down their ideas in response to the above questions. Consult the developmentally appropriate list of chores (see full tool) for ideas. For 8-10-year-olds, create a checklist together of your household responsibility plan on a whiteboard or chalkboard.&nbsp;&nbsp;Trap:&nbsp;Be sure to create your plan at a calm time. Don’t create your plan when you are in the routine, hungry or tired, or under time pressure.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Step 2: Teach New Skills&nbsp;●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Say what you will model and why. Model it.&nbsp;“Watch how I play, waiter. You can try it after me!”●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ask your child what they noticed: “What did you notice when I acted like a waiter?”●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Invite your child to model:&nbsp;“Okay, it's your turn to pretend to be the waiter.”●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ask what they noticed with their modeling: “What did you notice when you did it?”●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Practice together: “Let’s both be waiters. I’ll set the napkins down, and you place the silverware.”●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Provide specific feedback starting with strengths using “I notice…” statements like,&nbsp;“I noticed you handled the silverware carefully -- terrific!&nbsp;When you put the napkins down, count so that each person gets one.”Tip:&nbsp;Be certain and pick a time to do this when you do not have time pressures.&nbsp;&nbsp;Tip:&nbsp;Remember that children learn through play. Play act like you would a game.&nbsp;&nbsp;Trap:&nbsp;Requiring a child to do a household task before teaching first is bound to create problems. Your child may not feel competent enough to do the job without teaching. Take the time to teach the new job before incorporating it into their routine!&nbsp;Step 3: Practice to Grow Skill and Develop Habits●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Use “Show me…” statements like,&nbsp;“Show me how you make your bed.”●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Proactively remind: “Remember our next step? What is it?”Step 4: Support Your Child's Development and Success●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ask key questions:&nbsp;“How are you feeling when it’s time to clean up? Do you know where everything goes?”●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Recognize effort by using “I notice” statements...

Why Examine Technology Use?Becoming intentional about your child’s daily technology use can influence how they develop a healthy relationship with technology and its role in their life. Looking for ways to experience and learn together about how to use devices wisely contributes to your child’s development.&nbsp;Step 1: Get Input- Get Your Child Thinking by Getting Their Input&nbsp;Writing down notes on your child’s responses to the following questions will help you develop rules or routines for device use.●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;What are your hopes and goals for your time after school and on weekends?●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Do you get to do everything you want to do in your free time – or connect with the people you want to communicate with (friends, family), or are there things you miss out on?●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;What roles do you want your devices to play in your life? (i.e., learning, entertainment, connection with friends)●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Do you tend to want screen time when you experience a particular emotion (e.g., sadness, frustration, anger)?&nbsp;●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;What other things would you like to try to calm down and feel better when you have this feeling? Can we talk about it, go outside, listen to music, or draw a picture?&nbsp;Trap:&nbsp;Be sure you talk about technology use at a calm time when you are not stressed or upset!&nbsp;&nbsp;Step 2: Teach New Skills&nbsp;Model healthy technology habits.&nbsp;●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Because technology plays a significant role in our family's life, modeling how you use technology teaches our children more than our words ever could. How are you disciplined about technology?&nbsp;&nbsp;Do you have rules for putting the laptop down and storing work away at the end of the day? Do you have times when you turn off or leave behind your phone? Share those practices with your child so that they understand that it’s not only children who have to manage devices and cultivate healthy technology habits.●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Notice how you cope with challenges and uncomfortable feelings. Do you tend to use technology as an “escape”?&nbsp;&nbsp;Talk with your child about how you are feeling and what you will do to calm down rather than tune out.&nbsp;&nbsp;Research content together before viewing.&nbsp;●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Our children need to learn to become their very own media analysts. Download an app or visit a media review site together. Get into a habit of reading together about new video games, television programs, movies, and applications before selecting them to view. If they are not developmentally appropriate, move on to something that is.●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Research any topic you are curious about on the internet together and review the keywords to use and the quality of the sites that come up in your search. Discuss the quality and reliability of the site.Tip:&nbsp;Playing story games with your child, like cooperatively making up a story, can stir imagination, creativity, and a love of stories.&nbsp;Trap:&nbsp;Not all media is trustworthy! Fake news, images, and videos are interspersed with real media. How do you know what to believe? And how do you guide your child? Making your child aware of the fact that there are fabricated news stories is an essential part of training them to use critical judgment when viewing media.&nbsp;Step 3: Practice to Grow Skill and Develop Habits&nbsp;●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Use “Show me…” statements with a positive tone and body language to express excitement and curiosity. When your child...

Why Anger?Research confirms that when young children learn to manage their feelings, their executive functions are simultaneously strengthened.1&nbsp;They can better use self-control, problem-solve, and focus their attention. There are intentional ways to grow a healthy parent-child relationship. Growing your child’s skills to manage anger provides a perfect opportunity.&nbsp;&nbsp;Tip:&nbsp;These steps are done best when you and your child/teen are not angry, tired, or in a rush.&nbsp;&nbsp;Tip:&nbsp;Intentional communication and a healthy parenting relationship support these steps.Step 1: Get Input- Get Your Child Thinking by Getting Their Input&nbsp;●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“When do you feel angry?”&nbsp;●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“What time of day?”&nbsp;●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“What people, places, and activities are usually involved?”&nbsp;●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“How does your body feel now?” (in a calm moment) “How does your body feel when you are angry?”&nbsp;&nbsp;Trap:&nbsp;Be sure you talk about anger at a calm time when you are not stressed or upset.&nbsp;&nbsp;Step 2: Teach New Skills●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Learn together! Anger and hurt are important messages to pay attention to. They mean emotional, social, or physical needs are not being met, or necessary boundaries (rules, values) are being violated.&nbsp;●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Anger is not bad or negative. You should not avoid or shut down the experience of it.●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Expressing anger in a way such as yelling will not make it go away.●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Venting, such as complaining, ranting, or even mumbling, does not relieve the upset thoughts and feelings.&nbsp;●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Avoiding or pretending you are not angry will not make it go away.●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Model behaviors and your children will notice and learn!&nbsp;2●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Create a calm-down plan.&nbsp;●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Recognize your anger from physical signs.●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Practice deep breathing to calm down.●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Brainstorm coping strategies for yourself, such as walking outside, moving in slow motion, distracting yourself, writing, or drawing.●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Make a list of coping strategies with your child, like counting to 50, drawing, coloring, or building something. Keep it handy!&nbsp;●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Work on your family feelings vocabulary. Use specific feeling words to describe your state of mind and help your child describe theirs.●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Play feelings guessing games with the family. Ask each family member what they did today and see if you can guess their feelings from their expression.&nbsp;●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Create a safe base -- a place in the house where your child can choose to go when they want comfort.&nbsp;●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Reflect on your child’s anger so you can be prepared to help. “What needs is my child not getting met? Can my child address the issue alone, or do they need to communicate a need, ask for help, or set a boundary?”●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Teach assertive communication through I-messages such as “I feel _________(insert feeling word) when you______ (name the words or actions that upset you) because__________.”●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Teach your child...

Why Listening?Your child’s success depends upon their ability to listen and understand what you and others are communicating. There are intentional ways to grow a healthy parent-child relationship while building essential listening skills in your child.&nbsp;&nbsp;Tip:&nbsp;These steps are done best when you and your child are not tired or in a rush.&nbsp;Tip:&nbsp;Intentional communication and healthy parenting relationships will support these steps.&nbsp;Step 1: Get Input- Get Your Child Thinking by Getting Their Input&nbsp;●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Do you feel listened to? When and by whom?”&nbsp;●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“How do you know that the person truly listens to you?”&nbsp;●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Are there times when someone is not listening to you?”●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“How does that make you feel?”&nbsp;&nbsp;Tip:&nbsp;During a family meal, explore the question: “What does it take to listen well?” Allow each family member to respond—model listening by allowing each person to complete their thoughts without interruption or judgment.&nbsp;Step 2: Teach New Skills&nbsp;●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Model listening while interacting with your child.&nbsp;Notice your body language. Ask: “What is my body communicating, and how am I demonstrating that I’m listening?”●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Listen for thought and feeling. In addition to listening to what your child says, see if you can identify the unspoken thought and feeling behind the content, in other words, the context.●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Build a sacred time into your routine when you are fully present to listen to what your child has to tell you.●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Learn listening strategies together by trying them out.○&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Demonstrate poor listening and good listening. Act it out, then reflect and ask:&nbsp;“What did you notice about her body language?”&nbsp;○&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Actively listen. One person listens to fully understand what the speaker is saying and waits until the speaker is finished talking before responding.○&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Paraphrase. Echo back to the speaker a summary of what they’ve said to check how accurate your listening is and also to confirm that you have heard them (“I heard you say that…”).○&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Seek clarification.&nbsp;If you are listening to learn something from the speaker, it is important to seek clarification on details to make certain you understand:&nbsp;“What did you mean when you said you weren’t happy this morning? What happened?”○&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Practice questioning and commenting with empathy.&nbsp;Instead of responding to a speaker with your own experiences, focus solely on the content of what has been communicated. Your child: “Today, Mrs. Smith started a new project. We are going to be building fairy tree houses. I can’t wait.” You: “Sounds like you are excited about this project.&nbsp;What else besides sticks do we need to collect?”&nbsp;Step 3: Practice to Grow Skill and Develop Habits&nbsp;●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Use “Show me…” statements like “Show me how you can listen at dinner without interrupting.”●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Recognize effort:&nbsp;“I noticed how you listened fully to your sister when she was upset. That’s so helpful to her.”●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Play listening...

ABack Talk Age 5 SummaryWhy Back Talk?Arguing in family life is typical and expected. “Back talk” can be defined as “argumentative replies.”^1&nbsp;Children can respond in anger, hurt, frustration, hurtful tones, or with hurtful words. Back talk also represents a power imbalance children are trying to rectify. To regain some power, children lash out with hurtful words. Power, after all, is a basic human need. Building your child’s skills to respond assertively but non-aggressively is essential to their success.Tip:&nbsp;These steps are done best when you and your child are not tired or in a rush.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Tip:&nbsp;Intentional communication and a healthy parenting relationship will support these steps.&nbsp;Step 1: Get Input- Get Your Child Thinking by Getting Their Input&nbsp;●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“What gets you upset or mad at a friend, a relative, Mom and Dad?”●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“What feelings do you experience?”&nbsp;(Name the multiple feelings that occur.)●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“How does your body feel when you’re upset?”&nbsp;(Name how your child physically experiences being upset, whether it’s a red hot face or a racing heartbeat.)&nbsp;●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Have you hurt another person’s feelings when you’ve argued? How did that feel?”&nbsp;●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“How might you have argued differently to express your needs but not harm the other person?”&nbsp;●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Practicing naming feelings will enable your child to identify their and others’ feelings and seek support when needed. This can help your child gain competence.&nbsp;●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Use your best listening skills!&nbsp;Step 2: Teach New Skills&nbsp;●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Reflect on how you currently model communication when you’re upset. Only model what you want to see and hear back from your child.●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Fighting habits hurt others and destroy trust in one another:^2○&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Do not use physical force.&nbsp;○&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Do not talk about others negatively when they are not present.&nbsp;&nbsp;○&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Do not criticize.&nbsp;○&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Do not show contempt.&nbsp;○&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Do not become defensive or blaming.&nbsp;○&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Do not refuse to listen or give the silent treatment.●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Play like a hermit crab to help calm down. When upset, pretend to bury yourself in your shell with your child, arms over your head. Take some deep breaths together and only reemerge when feeling better.&nbsp;●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Begin to teach your child to repair harm. A critical step in teaching children about managing anger is learning how to repair harm when they’ve caused it.Tip:&nbsp;If your child finds it difficult to give you a feeling word, offer them options and ask which ones fit their true emotions. This will help expand their feelings vocabulary.&nbsp;Step 3: Practice to Grow Skill and Develop Habits&nbsp;●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Allow your child the chance to assert their needs in small ways, like ordering for themselves in a restaurant or asking for your attention in healthy ways.&nbsp;●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Consider how you can create the conditions to support their success (like offering coaching or guided open-ended questions to prompt thinking) so your child...

Children and adults alike experience stress.&nbsp;Stress is the physical or mental response to an external cause,&nbsp;such as a change in a routine or being yelled at by an angry sibling. Feelings of stress are naturally built-in mechanisms for human survival. These feelings are the body’s way of warning you when there is danger and calling your attention to problems that need resolving. A stressor can be one-time or ongoing.&nbsp;&nbsp;Anxiety is the body’s reaction to stress and can occur even if there is no current threat. While all humans experience some anxiety, when worries and fears become persistent, they can begin to interfere with everyday life and impact your child’s health.&nbsp;&nbsp;As a parent or those in a parenting role, you can help your child learn to identify and manage their stress -- a skill they will use throughout their lives.&nbsp;

Children are constantly noting differences in the world. Parents or those in a parenting role can support children as they make sense of differences among people by talking to them about what they observe.

As a parent or someone in a parenting role, you play an essential role in your child’s success. There are intentional ways to grow a healthy parent-child relationship, and daily routines provide a perfect opportunity.

Now is the right time to become more aware of the messages your child is receiving about cannabis, the impacts on your child, and how you can shape the messages you send going forward to promote healthy choices. Though children are typically not tempted by peer pressure to try cannabis until ages 15-19, they still receive messages and view modeling throughout their childhood that will have a direct impact on whether or not they’ll be able to make responsible decisions about cannabis. As a parent or those in a parenting role, what you model and the messages you send in your child’s early years related to cannabis can set them up for success.&nbsp;

Now is the right time to become more aware of the messages your child is receiving about alcohol, the impacts, and how you can shape the messages you send going forward to promote healthy choices. Though children are typically not tempted by peer pressure to drink alcohol until the ages of 11-14, they still receive messages and modeling throughout their childhood that will have a direct impact on whether or not they’ll be able to make responsible decisions about alcohol when the time comes. As a parent or those in a parenting role, what you model and the messages you send about alcohol in your child’s early years can set them up for success.&nbsp;

Five-year-olds are working on understanding what it means to act responsibly. They are:● working to understand the rules and apply them in various settings.&nbsp;● working on their independence.&nbsp;● increasingly taking care of their bodies (eating right, getting exercise).● learning about relationships (managing their feelings and impulses, empathizing and working through conflict, being dependable, and keeping promises).&nbsp;● managing homework and extracurricular activities, and&nbsp;● contributing to their household (doing chores, cooperating with rules and expectations).&nbsp;

As a parent or those in a parenting role, you play an essential role in helping your child develop empathy.&nbsp;Empathy is the way people effectively relate to one another. It’s the ability to perceive what others are feeling, process that information, and respond in a compassionate manner.&nbsp;There are intentional ways to grow a healthy parent-child relationship while growing your child’s capacity for empathy from the time they are born all the way through their teen years. Empathy is essential for your child to experience happy healthy relationships because it allows for emotional connection to others beginning early with family and friends and extending as they develop into successful school, work, social, and even romantic relationships.

As a parent or those in a parenting role, you play an essential role in your child’s success. Helping your child grow healthy friendships is important. Through relationships, your child develops a sense of belonging. They come to better understand themselves through their interactions with you, their teachers, and their peers.&nbsp;

Children ages 5-10 are working on understanding rules and applying them in various situations. They are seeking independence and will naturally test limits and break rules. This is a normal part of their development and necessary for their learning.&nbsp;

As a parent or those in a parenting role, you play an essential role in your child’s success. There are intentional ways to grow a healthy parent-child relationship, and growing your child’s skills to manage conflict provides a perfect opportunity.

As a parent or those in a parenting role, you play an essential role in your child’s success. There are intentional ways to grow a healthy parent-child relationship while growing confidence in your child to work toward their goals and succeed in school and life.

As a parent or those in a parenting role, you play an essential role in your five-year-old’s success. Helping your child learn to understand and deal with bullying behavior is important for their success in school and life. One in five children experiences bullying, which can come in the form of repeated name-calling, insults, rumors, taunting, social exclusion, or physical harm.^