Why Breathing Doesn't Work (and what does)
We all do it. When faced with a panicky child we say Take a breath. And then one of two things happens...
Keeping Socks On and Other Sensory Challenges
Do you have a child who rips off his socks, turns them inside out, and rips them off again? A child who reacts to any hint of a label, and cannot wear jeans? Some kids have sensory sensitivities. Things in the environment bother them. A lot...
One Stone: Extinguishing Negative Behaviors
Go to the craft store and buy a bag of clear blue stones. Or go to the beach and find 30 smooth pebbles. Put them in a jar. These pebbles will be the start of a surprisingly effective behavioral system...
All that Glitters: Designing Effective Reward Systems
Behavior that is rewarded increases. It's as simple as that, as long as you make it clear, make it fast, and link your system to the behavior you want to reward...
Why Reassurance Doesn't Work (and what does)
You'll be fine! How many times have you said that to your child? One hundred times? One thousand? I promise I'll be there to get you. You're not going to throw up. It isn't going to rain. There won't be any dogs. Just call me if you need me...
Picturing Success: See It, Do It
It's the rallying cry of anxious children: What if...?
What if you aren't there after school? What if that noise was a bad guy? What if I miss you? I strike out? Feel scared? Get sick? Terrible outcomes cascade through the minds of anxious children, some so awful, so utterly catastrophic that the mere mention of going to school, going upstairs, going to a friend's house causes panic...