Techniques and Strategies
Number of unique resources found: 82
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Description: Links to information on parenting, health, mental health, development, education and child care.
– Evaluation –
Implementing Policies to Reduce the Likelihood of Preschool Expulsion
Author: Gilliam, Walter (2 more by this author)
Description: This policy brief examines factors associated with expulsion from Prekindergarten (Pre-K). Recent
research has explored issues regarding the rate at which preschoolers (children ages three to four)
are expelled from Pre-K programs, as well as some of the factors associated with expulsion and the
effectiveness of mental health consultation to reduce the classroom behavior problems that may
lead to expulsion.
– General Information –
16 Tools for Effective Parents 
Author: Molgaard, Virginia (19 more by this author)
Description: This fact sheet provides suggested tools for parenting children ages 10-14.
Description: Early Head Start Task Force has designed this bookmark for Parents and Caregivers to provide them information regarding the simple things they can do for their children that make a huge difference in their lives.
Also available in Spanish, "7 cosas geniales que los padres y los cuidadores pueden hacer", at http://www.ed.gov/teachers/how/early/teachingouryoungest/bookmark-es.pdf.
Author: Pathak, Sanjeev ; Bruce Perry, M.D.
Description: This article provides information about anxiety disorders in children. The definition, typical symptoms, resulting difficulties is discussed. Information on specific anxiety disorders is also provided.
Description: The Backpack Connection Series was created by TACSEI to provide a way for teachers and parents/caregivers to work together to help young children develop social emotional skills and reduce challenging behavior. Each Backpack Connection handout provides information that helps parents stay informed about what their child is learning at school and specific ideas on how to use the strategy or skill at home.
Basic Tools for Guiding Young Children's Behavior
Description: This online newsletter provides information to adults who care for children about basic tools for child guidance. The information is applicable to both parents and teachers.
Children with Challenging Behaviors
Author: Moore Kroneman, Kerry
Description: This Hot Topic provides information on children with challenging behaviors. It includes a brief overview of challenging children and challenging behaviors, including definitions. Many resources are included for more information.
Children: Guidance and Discipline/Niños: guía y disciplina
Description: Parents and their children are engaged in a very important interaction, one in which the child is learning, doing, and growing, and the parent is trying to help the child learn, behave, and grow in appropriate ways. This flyer focuses on Guidance/Discipline. This 2 page document explains basic strategies for helping children learn to think and behave in appropriate, healthy, and positive ways. Also available in Spanish at http://extensionenespanol.net/tmppdfs/1408175-em4776s.pdf?CFID=1408175&CFTOKEN=49138c96e6693327-942F2893-F368-D7EE-BC8097C0876630DE&jsessionid=e430118c4f0d0d95f41c2d7d2034526a442d.
Author: Allen, Rose (7 more by this author)
Description: The University of Minnesota Extension Services has provided this piece for parents on how to deal with their child when they become angry. This short piece describes an effective four-step process designed to help a parent gain their composure and calm down when their children have upset them.
Author: Ruffin, Novella (5 more by this author)
Description: This fact sheet focuses on positive behavior management. It describes goals of behavior management, the developmental stages of social development, the relationship between curriculum and discipline, and how to respond to emotional outbursts.
Discipline and Your Child, Backpack Buddies Series
Author: Collins, Elaine (2 more by this author)
Description: Ohio State University Extension Services has provided this newsletter to illustrate to parents the importance of discipling their children. Discipline helps teach children what behaviors are appropriate and what are not. In addition, it helps children gain self-control and develop healthy self-esteem.
Discipline that Works: The Ages and Stages Approach
Author: Graham, Judith (6 more by this author)
Description: This fact sheet explains how to base discipline on your child's development. It also explains the difference between discipline and punishment, and offers tips for effective discipline. A chart is provided that explains development and offers tips on discipline for children from infancy to age ten.
Enjoying Each Child as an Individual
Author: Goddard, H. (29 more by this author)
Description: This publication discusses how all children have different rates of development and different personalities, and how knowing this can help parents be patient and learn to accept each child as an individual.
Description: This handout by Texas A&M Extension offers parents and other adults information on how to provide positive guidance. It includes examples of things parents can do to provide positive support for young children.
Family Time Work Time: Think Before You Speak!
Author: Mincemoyer, Claudia (7 more by this author)
Description: This newsletter for parents discusses how they influence their children by what they say to their children, how to keep safe during thunderstorms, and info on family gardening. Also available in Spanish at http://betterkidcare.psu.edu/FTWTEsp/10MayESPftwt.pdf.
Author: LeFebvre, Joan (7 more by this author)
Description: This newsbrief explains basic strategies for helping children learn to think and behave in appropriate, healthy, and positive ways. The focus should be on what children should DO rather than what not to do (the don'ts).
Get Off To a Good Start, Backpack Buddies Series
Author: Collins, Elaine (2 more by this author)
Description: Ohio State University's Extension Services has provided this short, informative piece with suggestions on how to get your kindergarten aged child into a routine that makes mornings and evenings easier on everyone.
Helping Children After a Disaster (Ayudando a los Niños Después de una Catástrofe)
Description: The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry has provided this piece for parents who are helping a child cope after a disaster. Adults are not the only people that experience the stressful side effects that occur after a disaster, such as an earthquake, a death of a loved one, or living through a terrorist act. Children need special care and attention following these difficult times. Also available in Spanish, "Ayudando a los Niños Después de una Catástrofe" at http://www.aacap.org/cs/root/facts_for_families/informacion_para_la_familia/ayudando_a_los_ninos_despues_de_una_catastrofe_no_36.
Helping Children Understand That The Effort is Worth It
Description: This article discusses how to provide encouragement to children on their efforts, rather than on the outcome of their work. It is important to help children continue to be persistent in learning new tasks, like a one-year-old trying to learn to walk. Many children in elementary school and older may give up trying, when they are not able to learn a task quickly. It's important that they not give up but continue to try to master the skill.
How Behavior Changes in Babies, Ages 0-18 Months
Author: Allen, Rose
Description: The University of Minnesota's Extension Services shares this piece that discusses how behavior changes in infants, from birth to 18 months. During the first year and a half of their lives, infants change dramatically. Language skills and behavior change over time with the influence of various environmental factors.
Author: LeFebvre, Joan (7 more by this author)
Description: This newsbrief explains basic strategies for not overindulging your children. Overindulgence is having so much of something that it does active harm or
deprives children from achieving their full potential. It’s a form of child neglect because it hinders children from learning necessary life lessons.
Description: This website provides access to written materials and media (DVDs) about children’s development and how families and communities can help support them.
In 1997, Rob and Michele Reiner joined forces with leading child development experts to help raise public awareness about the critical importance the prenatal period through the first early years plays in a child’s healthy brain development. Already a renowned film director, Reiner turned his talents to helping educate parents on this, and other topics of interest to the caregivers of our youngest children.
Description: TACSEI's "Making Life Easier" series is designed specifically for parents and caregivers. This series of tipsheets contains valuable information on how to make often challenging events easier to navigate, and even enjoyable, for both caregivers and children.
Author: LeFebvre, Joan (7 more by this author)
Description: This news brief provides information on how the lack of sleep can cause behavior issues in children. Many young children are not getting enough sleep and it impacts their behavior, their health, and their ability to regulate their emotions. Included are checklists on emotions, social situations, health, attention, focus, and performance.
Description: The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) has developed a new Web page providing a collection of resources specifically For Families. The new page features “Families Today”, a column by Doctors T. Berry Brazelton and Joshua Sparrow, information on quality child care and preschool programs, and resources to support development.
Parenting the Preschooler: Children: Guidance and Discipline
Author: Barber, Kenneth (2 more by this author)
Description: Parents and their children are engaged in a very important interaction, one in which the child is learning, doing, and growing, and the parent is trying to help the child learn, behave, and grow in appropriate ways. This is Guidance/Discipline. This 2 page document explains basic strategies for helping children learn to think and behave in appropriate, healthy, and positive ways.
Parenting the Preschooler: What's Your Parenting Style?
Author: LeFebvre, Joan (7 more by this author)
Description: This news brief provides information on understanding parenting styles and gives insight into both parent behaviors and outcomes for children.
Positive Discipline: A Guide for Parents
Description: Positive Discipline: A Guide to Parents is an easy-to-read, easy-to-use 64 page booklet that looks at common parenting challenges from birth through early elementary years. It gives parents ways to address behavior using positive discipline techniques to guide and teach their child(ren). It is filled with ideas that really work.
This printed booklet is available in English and Spanish for a small fee. Not available to download. Somali and Hmong versions are available free online as pdf.
Principles of Parenting: Something Better Than Punishment
Author: Bales, Diane (20 more by this author); Dr. Ted Futris
Description: The University of Georgia's Cooperative Extension Service has provided this newsletter for parents with tips on how to provide effective guidance with children. Studies have shown that using natural and logical consequences as disciplinary methods for children are very effective.
Punishment or Discipline? Understanding the Difference
Author: Day, Patrick
Description: This brochure describes the differences between punishment and discipline and offers tips for parents and caregivers.
Description: This 4-page fact sheet briefly describes the three tiers of intervention practice and outlines six key assumptions that were made during the design process about how the Pyramid Model would be implemented.
Replacing Time-Out: Part One-Using Guidance to Build an Encouraging Classroom
Author: Gartrell, Dan (1 more by this author)
Description: This article explains “what the fuss is about” concerning time-outs and why it is important to replace time-outs with guidance that builds an encouraging classroom.
Setting Limits for Responsive Discipline
Author: Pitzer, Ronald (7 more by this author)
Description: This brief article offers some ideas about setting rules and limits with children, including realistic expectations, negative vs. positive limits, and consistency.
Social and Emotional Learning in Schools From Programs to Strategies
Author: Jones, Stephanie; Suzanne M. Bouffard
Description: This issue of Social Policy Report focuses on school’s role in supporting social and emotional learning (SEL). This issue proposes that schools should take a new approach: integrating the teaching and reinforcement of SEL skills into their daily interactions and practices with students. It explains that research warrants a new perspective and highlights a range of new approaches and support strategies that are designed to be time-efficient, low-cost, and integrated with (rather than distracting from) academic curricula.
The "I Can Problem Solve" Discipline Ladder
Author: LeFebvre, Joan (7 more by this author); Dr. Myrna B. Shure
Description: This news brief provides information on the "I Can Problem Solve" guidance approach which looks at how parents and other caregivers talk with children when conflicts or other problems arise.
The problem solving approach is one where you teach children how to think, not what to think. When parents use this approach, children feel better about themselves, try harder to reach their goals, get frustrated less easily, behave better, have more friends, and do better in school.
Author: Smith, Charles (28 more by this author)
Description: A detailed network for parents including programs, courses, elements, storytime, opinions, and humor regarding parenthood.
Tips for Parents: Helpful Hints on Discipline
Author: Bower, Don (15 more by this author)
Description: The University of Georgia's Cooperative Extension Service has provided this revised peice by Don Bower for parents with tips on how to discipline children effectively. Studies have shown that using natural and logical consequences as disciplinary methods for children are very effective.
Tips for Parents: Natural Consequences
Author: Bower, Don (15 more by this author)
Description: The University of Georgia's Cooperative Extension Service has provided this revised peice by Don Bower for parents with tips on how to discipline children effectively. Studies have shown that using natural and logical consequences as disciplinary methods for children are very effective.
Understanding Children with Challenging Behaviors
Author: Tralle, Minnell (5 more by this author); Kathleen Olson
Description: This online parenting resource provides families with information on how to parent children with challenging behaviors. Explanations for the behaviors and suggestions for guiding those children are included.
Understanding Children: Temper Tantrums
Author: Oesterreich, Lesia (35 more by this author)
Description: This article explains why children throw tantrums at certain ages and offers suggestions for dealing with them when they happen. It also discusses prevention ideas and how to support children so they can better manage their feelings.
Understanding Children: Disciplining Your Toddler
Author: Oesterreich, Lesia (35 more by this author)
Description: Setting limits and maintaining some kind of control are difficult tasks with toddlers because they are so independent, yet have so few skills to communicate and solve problems. The key to disciplining your toddler includes love, understanding, and quick thinking!
Author: Molgaard, Virginia (19 more by this author); Laura Miller
Description: A PDF file that describes how using consequences as a way of discipline can be an effective way of child development.
Using “Time Out” as a Discipline Tool
Author: Olson, Kathleen (7 more by this author)
Description: The University of Minnesota's Extension Services has provided this article for parents and child care providers to determine if using time outs as a discipline is an effective problem solving method. Both advantages and disadvantages to using time outs are discussed within this piece. The article also discusses if you are going to use time outs as a disciplinary action, when they should be used and for how long in order for them to be effective.
Description: This handout by Texas A&M Extension offers parents, caregivers, and other adults information on how to provide positive guidance. It includes examples of "Do's" and "Don'ts" in providing support for young children.
Author: Pitzer, Ronald (7 more by this author); Kathleen Olson
Description: The University of Minnesota's Extension Services has provided this oneline newsletter for parents about spanking. The piece includes reasons parent's spank and why spanking is not recommnded for guiding and disciplining children.
What Your Children Really Want This Holiday Season
Author: Picklesimer, Phyllis (2 more by this author)
Description: This article offers some suggestions on how to make the holidays most enjoyable for children and the rest of the family.
Winning Ways to Grocery Shop with Young Children
Author: Conroy, Jane; Debra Spurling; Shirley Hager
Description: This fact sheet provides information on how to make shopping with children easier. It recommends planning shopping trips and includes suggestions for guiding children's behavior when shopping.
Young Children Who Learn Self Control Have More Chances for Success
Author: Kim, Yaebin
Description: This Extension fact sheet discusses children learning self-control and self regulation. It includes suggestions on how to help children learn self control.
– Professional Development –
Managing Challenging Behavior by Creating Supportive Environments
Author: McFarland, Rebecca (2 more by this author)
Description: This document is a pdf of a powerpoint presentation. These slides can be used to train teachers and others who work with young children. It includes suggestions for classroom environment, rules, and routines to improve and support children's behavior.
See also Managing Challenging Behavior, Teaching Guide (Child Care) at http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/library/famlf2/mf2844.pdf and Understanding and Managing Challenging Behavior, Support Materials at http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/library/famlf2/mf2843.pdf for the full materials to present this information.
Managing Challenging Behavior, Teaching Guide (Child Care)
Author: McFarland, Rebecca (2 more by this author)
Description: This document is the teaching guide/ lesson plan that goes along with the powerpoint presentation, Managing Challenging Behavior by Creating Supportive Environments. These materials can be used to train teachers and others who work with young children. The training includes suggestions for classroom environment, rules, and routines to improve and support children's behavior.
See also Managing Challenging Behavior by Creating Supportive Environments at http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/library/famlf2/mf2845.pdf and Understanding and Managing Challenging Behavior, Support Materials at http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/library/famlf2/mf2843.pdf for the full materials to present this information.
Understanding and Managing Challenging Behavior, Support Materials
Author: McFarland, Rebecca (2 more by this author)
Description: These are the support materials that go along with the powerpoint presentation, Managing Challenging Behavior by Creating Supportive Environments. These materials can be used to train teachers and others who work with young children. The training includes suggestions for classroom environment, rules, and routines to improve and support children's behavior.
See also Managing Challenging Behavior by Creating Supportive Environments at http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/library/famlf2/mf2845.pdf and Managing Challenging Behavior, Teaching Guide (Child Care) at http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/library/famlf2/mf2844.pdf for the full materials to present this information.
– Programming Resource –
Appropriate Limits for Young Children: A Guide for Discipline
Author: DeBord, Karen (61 more by this author)
Description: This fact sheet and teaching guide gives information about the guidance and discipline of young children. The following issues are addressed: causes for children's misbehavior, differences in expectations for children at varying ages, and strategies for dealing with behavior issues. This resource also includes a bibliography of other resources.
Description: What does behavior mean in children? What are children really trying to communicate? This tip sheet, part of the Growing Ideas Toolkit, explores reasons why children may behavior in certain ways.
Author: Brandon, Denise; Roberta Frazier; Clint E. Cummings
Description: This 15-page brochure describes positive ways to guide your child's behavior. Specific techniques and tips are included.
Childhood Aggression: Where Does It Come From? How Can It Be Managed?
Author: DeBord, Karen (61 more by this author)
Description: This fact sheet discusses aggression in children: how it develops, what it looks like at different ages, and what adults can do to lessen aggression in children. Suggests strategies to try with each age.
Daily Transitions — Time for a Change
Description: This tip sheet, part of the Growing Ideas Toolkit, discusses the importance of planning for daily transitions, especially when the group includes children with special needs.
Description: The Growing Ideas Tipsheets are a compilation of resources designed to guide inclusive early childhood practices. This page contains link to tipsheets, virtual tool kits, and other selected resources on specific inclusion topics.
Some of the topics covered are developmentally appropriate practice, inclusive early childhood education, universal design, assessment, daily transitions, and word play day. The virtual tool kit contains professional development activities for staff.
Author: Oesterreich, Lesia (35 more by this author)
Description: This fact sheet identifies common causes for arguments between siblings and suggests ways that parents can respond. The author also discusses fighting that goes beyond reasonable and becomes abusive. References are listed.
Author: Oesterreich, Lesia (35 more by this author)
Description: This publication discusses ways that parents can teach their children to manage their anger and express it appropriately.
Description: This brief fact sheet gives parents information about recommended do's and don't's when disciplining children. (Note: This resource is available in html at http://www.nasdonline.org/document/1691/d001581/good-discipline-is-guiding-and-teaching-the-children.html and in Spanish as "La Buena Disciplina es Guiar y Enseñar a los Niños" at http://nasdonline.org/document/1692/d001581s/la-buena-disciplina-es-guiar-y-ense-ntilde.html.)
How to Promote Children's Social and Emotional Skills: Parent Training Modules
Description: The Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL) has created Parent Training Modules which provide information for families on promoting children's social and emotional skills, understanding their problem behaviors, and using positive approaches to help them learn appropriate behaviors. The modules are available along with a family workbook.
Implementing Policies to Reduce the Likelihood of Preschool Expulsion
Author: Gilliam, Walter (2 more by this author)
Description: This policy brief examines factors associated with expulsion from Prekindergarten (Pre-K). Recent
research has explored issues regarding the rate at which preschoolers (children ages three to four)
are expelled from Pre-K programs, as well as some of the factors associated with expulsion and the
effectiveness of mental health consultation to reduce the classroom behavior problems that may
lead to expulsion.
Description: This brief discusses Logical Consequences through the illustration of two "real-life" scenarios.
Author: DeBord, Karen (61 more by this author)
Description: This fact sheet addresses common misconceptions and myths about teenagers. Suggests strategies parents can use understand and nurture their teenagers.
Description: The Growing Ideas Tipsheets are a compilation of resources designed to guide inclusive early childhood practices. This page contains link to tipsheets, virtual tool kits, and other selected resources on specific inclusion topics.
Some of the topics covered are business matters, laws that support early childhood education, admission policies for parents and providers, and confidentiality. The virtual tool kit contains professional development activities for staff.
Author: Goddard, H. (29 more by this author)
Description: This fact sheet suggests ways to send the right messages of love to your children, scheduling special time with your child, and how to send clear messages.
Description: The Growing Ideas Tipsheets are a compilation of resources designed to guide inclusive early childhood practices. This page contains link to tipsheets, virtual tool kits, and other selected resources on specific social emotional topics.
Some of the topics covered are friends and feelings, building belonging, behavior communicates, biting, aggression, and early childhood mental health consultation. The virtual tool kit contains professional development activities for staff.
Something Better than Punishment
Author: Goddard, H. (29 more by this author)
Description: This fact sheet provides suggestions to parents on ways to provide guidance and discipline to their children.
Author: Graham, Judith (6 more by this author)
Description: This fact sheet discusses the harmful effects of spanking and the social and cultural influences that contribute to spanking.
Stress - Taking Charge: Helping Children Manage Stress
Author: Molgaard, Virginia (19 more by this author)
Description: This publication addresses some of the common situations that cause stress and worry among young children. It gives practical ways for parents and gaurdians to help them cope with that stress.
Teaching Children to Resolve Conflict
Author: Fittro, Joyce (1 more by this author)
Description: This fact sheet outlines the steps for teaching problem solving to children. Although this may seem challenging to parents, it is a beneficial skill for children to have and helps them to develp socially acceptable behaviors.
Author: Graham, Judith (6 more by this author)
Description: This fact sheet describes the nine areas of temperament and the temperament categories that may describe a child.
Author: Brown, Annette; Mary Beth Kaufman, Sue McDonnell; Donna Donald, Janet Garkey; Elizabeth Kiss
Description: This game can be used by parents to help children decide what is most important to them when it comes to spending their allowance.
The Challenge of Working with Challenging Children
Author: Mulroy, Maureen
Description: This short newsletter article discusses reasons that children misbehave and challenge adult authority. It then gives suggestions for dealing with challenging behavior.
Author: Dunlap, Glen (2 more by this author); Lise Fox; Phil Strain; Mary Louise Hemmeter
Description: This Brief provides an overview of a comprehensive approach to supporting children's behavior and discusses the role of time-out in the context of a comprehensive approach. Although time-out has been demonstrated to be effective in some situations, it should not be overused and should be reserved for high-intensity behaviors such as aggression toward peers and adults and destructive behavior. Because of a lack of evidence to support its use with very young children as well as the research on the social-emotional development of very young children, the use of time-out with infants and young toddlers is not recommended.
Author: Oesterreich, Lesia (35 more by this author)
Description: This fact sheet discusses common fears that children experience at different ages. The author provides suggestions for parents in helping children cope with fears. The author also lists several children's books and other references related to fear.
Author: Oliver, Kathy (3 more by this author)
Description: This fact sheet describes the different types of temperaments children have and how parents need to recognize the temperament of their child in order to best understand and support their development.
Using Choice and Preference to Promote Improved Behavior
Description: This brief uses are "real-life" scenario to discuss and explain the effects of the Choice-Making Strategy to promote positive behavior.
When You Feel Like...Lashing Out
Author: Kock, Jo Anne (7 more by this author); Alice M. Crites
Description: This fact sheet gives some general information about child abuse and includes tips for parents on avoiding child abuse and getting help.
Winning Ways to Talk with Young Children
Description: This fact sheet offers tips for better communication with your young child, such as keep requests simple and use more "dos" than "don'ts." It also includes a self-test worksheet to practice these skills.
WonderWise Parent Online Courses
Description: Visit this Web site to participate in five free online courses geared to parents. The courses include: I'm Positive: Growing up with self-respect; Fire Works (anger management); Responsive Discipline; Caring Works; and Grandletters.
– Research –
Implementing Policies to Reduce the Likelihood of Preschool Expulsion
Author: Gilliam, Walter (2 more by this author)
Description: This policy brief examines factors associated with expulsion from Prekindergarten (Pre-K). Recent
research has explored issues regarding the rate at which preschoolers (children ages three to four)
are expelled from Pre-K programs, as well as some of the factors associated with expulsion and the
effectiveness of mental health consultation to reduce the classroom behavior problems that may
lead to expulsion.
Author: Powell, Diane (1 more by this author); Glen Dunlap, Ph.D; Dean Fixsen, Ph.D.
Description: This report is a summary of current knowledge about the utilization of services by young children with challenging behaviors and their families. The purpose this report is to present a concise picture of the research that has been conducted in this area.