Parent Toolbox

Parent Toolbox is an opportunity to create your own workshop or series or individual parent consultation session. Choose from the menu of options below or call me to discuss your particular need. Parent toolbox is for parents, parent groups, or parent-focused events.

Toolbox Options:
  • One topic workshop 1.5 hr - $20/person (minimum 6)
  • Three-topic workshop 6 hr; 9-3pm (1/2 hr for lunch & 2 breaks) - $60/person (minimum 8)
  • Individual parent (pair or single) consultations - $80/hr

1. I Swore I Would Never Do That
Explore how family experiences and culture shape your beliefs, consciously and subconsciously; and how beliefs shape the way you parent. Gain insight into family of origin messages and triggers. Choose what part of your legacy to continue and what to leave behind. Share only what you are comfortable sharing.

2. Are You a Rooted Tree or a Feather in the Wind?
Become more grounded with values-based parenting. Learn the difference between proactive and reactive parenting. Learn how clarifying values and beliefs can shape the course of your family, increase teamwork between parents, and boost your confidence in tough times. Go home with a clearer direction for your family.

3. Do I Make Myself Clear?
This session builds directly on session 2 – connecting rules to values. Do you have rules that shift and change? Are the rules clear to everyone? Do you feel challenged making rules and sticking to them? Do you feel like the bad guy when you make or enforce rules? Do you and your parenting partner disagree about rules? A “yes” answer to any of these questions means this is the session for you.

4. Building the Emotional Bank Account
Where are you investing your time and energy? Building “the positives” is essential for quick recovery when the daily stresses and conflicts of family life occur. A rules-only focus on parenting eventually collapses. Building positivity, respect and trust in childhood can make things a lot easier in the teen years…but it’s never too late. This one is great for couples too. Learn what you can do differently.

5. Where is the Parent Job Description?
Go from director and lecturer to leader, guide and coach with ideas you can put into action. Understanding your role as a parent, defining that role for yourself and choosing your leadership style intentionally, can make a real difference in how you function and in how your children function.

6. Parenting the Child You Have - Part 1
Understanding your child’s developmental needs at each age, and how they show up in behavior, can help you respond more positively and more effectively. Understanding how your child’s behavior today is part of a bigger picture, can help you relax and focus on what is important.

7. Parenting the Child You Have - Part 2
What were you expecting, and who showed up instead? A child thrives with a parenting style that matches his/her unique personality and temperament. If you have more than one child (or plan to) you’ll soon find out that what works with one, may not with the others. Our efforts to connect our caring with our child’s unique needs, help that child feel accepted and secure. Learn a little about temperament, birth order, gender and more; and how you can customize your parenting to each child without losing your mind.

8. “Noticing” - The Power Tool
Who would have thought that such a little thing could make such a big difference? Learn the difference between noticing and praise, and how the subtle but powerful shift to noticing can affect your child’s attention seeking behavior, confidence and creativity. This shift can also help parents feel less negative and powerless. This is an especially important tool for “challenging” children.

9. The Languages of Love
We will use Gary Chapman’s concept in The Five Love Languages of Children as a jumping off point to explore how you and your child(ren) prefer to give and receive love. Tuning into this important communication preference can help avoid hurt feelings and increase the sense of belonging for family members.

10. Whose Problem Is It Anyway?
Family members can become entangled in a crazy dance of taking on one another’s problems without even recognizing it. Yelling, cajoling, lecturing, nagging and constant anxious worry could be clues that you are in this fix. When we are over-involved, our children miss valuable competency building experiences. When we are under-involved, they lack needed support. Learn how to identify when and how to get involved in your child’s problem; and how to support and guide without going too far.

11. Divide and Conquer – the Oldest Trick in the Book
Parents (and grandparents, and babysitters) working together as a team create security and competence in growing children. When you improve your consistency, you may find your child’s anxious, whining, arguing, and manipulative behaviors quickly decrease.

12. Steps in the Right Direction
Adjustments to a new marriage with stepchildren can be stressful and confusing. Learn how to avoid unnecessary conflicts while building meaningful relationships. Define a unique and important role for yourself as step-parent. Help your partner understand your needs without resorting to demanding, blaming or pouting.

13. Unified Exes – We’re Still Your Parents
Adults can be committed to co-parenting in ways that are best for children, even when they are no longer together as a couple. We will explore essential vs. optional communication; how to get along for children’s well-being; and addressing issues you disagree about. Learn what the research says about how children fare well or poorly in divorce and family break-up. Take home unified messages to give children.