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Resources for Parents

Parenting children ages three to eight years can be a difficult time for both parents and children. Learn about emotional regulation and help your child learn and grow emotionally and socially. Nurturing and playing with your child can be a key to success as they grow.

On this page you'll find informative articles and books about parenting by Carolyn Webster-Stratton. Also here are games and other fun items.

Incredible Toddlers - A Guide and Journal of Your Toddler's Discoveries

Read chapter 3 from Carolyn Webster-Stratton's new book for parents with toddlers!

This chapter describes two types of parental coaching: social coaching and emotion coaching. You will learn how to use these coaching strategies with your toddler in order to begin his or her learning about initiation of friendship skills as well as to help him learn how to recognize and label his own feelings and the feelings of others. This coaching will also contribute to your toddler's ability to achieve key developmental milestones of communication, enhanced sense of self, and secure attachment to parents and other family members.

Child and Parents Conversation Card Game

This game is made up of two card decks. One deck is used by the child and the other is used by parents. The adult and child each take turns asking a question while the other answers. It is a fun way to encourage communication, sharing, and self-expression. $35. Order form

Example parent deck questions include, "what do you like to do best with me?", "what are two important household rules?", "what is the best way I can help with your homework?", "what do you say to yourself to stay calm?", "what is the hardest part about being a kid?"

Example child deck questions include, "what can I do to earn a reward?" or, "is it ever okay to tell a lie?", or, "what is the story behind my name?" or, "what do you like to do best with me?", or, "are there any projects we can work on together?"

A video clip showing conversation card game play.

Incredible Parents Conversation Card Game

This card game facilitates discussion between parents about parenting strategies and goals. This game can be played with Incredible Years parent groups or with friends, group buddies, or between partners. Parents take turns asking each other questions such as: "how do you find time to schedule some personal time for yourself?", "what is the most fun thing you do with your child?", "what is one way you used the attention principle successfully?", "what are two behaviors you look for when doing Incredible Years social coaching?", "what makes it hard for you to praise your child?".

Examples of questions from the section on handling misbehavior include: "how do you stay calm when using the ignoring strategy?", "what are two good consequences for 5-6 year olds?", "what is one principle you have learned in Incredible Years that you have used successfully?", "when you feel yourself starting to get angry, what coping self-talk do you find useful to stay respectful?"

Articles that Parents May Find Helpful

Rewards Can Give Children and Extra Boost - Carolyn Webster-Stratton (2010)
When used correctly, rewards can help kids succeed, make them proud of their accomplishments and motivate them to keep trying to overcome challenges.

On the Other Hand - Today's Parent (2010)
Good parents support their children with encouragement and praise, but occasionally kids need a little extra incentive to learn a particularly difficult behavior. That’s where rewards can be helpful.

Responsive and Nurturing Parenting Sets the Stage for Children’s Social, Emotional and Academic Development
Did you know that one out of four social interactions with another child in preschool is aggressive?

Parents and Children Together, Let's Play - Parent Connection (1990)
There is a widespread belief among adults in our society that the free and easy playtimes between parents and children are frivolous and nonproductive.

Don't Be Afraid to Praise - Parenting Insights (1994)
The purpose of praise is to increase positive behavior with the child's knowledge, to communicate that certain behaviors are desirable.

Lying Parenting Insights (1995)
What to do; first, don't panic. Respond calmly. Like any other problem, lying represents another opportunity to help children learn.

Emotional Regulation (Parts 1&2) Parenting Insights (1996)

Coping With Peer Problems and Teaching Friendship Skills
Parents can teach social skills by role playing with their children.

Helping Children Learn to Regulate Their Emotions
Emotions are responses to stimuli or situations that affect a person strongly. Children differ strikingly in their emotional responses and they also vary widely in their understanding of emotions, both their own and in others.

A parent writes a letter about how the Incredible Years Parent Training Program helped them meet their child's challenging behavior with understanding
"The training has helped me sort out the issues I face with my foster child. ...by learning the most effective parenting approaches I have reduced my child behavioral problems before it got out to control so as to strengthen his emotional and academic competence."

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