Table of Contents
Introduction 1
Section 1 Common Parenting Problems & Solutions 9
Chapter 1 Using Self-Regulation to Redefine the Way You Parent 10
The Keystone of Self-Regulation 13
Reflection 15
Tool #1 Plan-to-Pause Poster 17
Tool #2 Favorite Calming Quotes 22
Tool #3 Daily Writing Reflections 23
Tool #4 The Dos and Don'ts of Self-Regulation 25
For Your Kids 26
Tool #1 Plan-to-Pause Poster 29
Tool #2 Big Belly Breaths 31
Tool #3 Seven Wonderful Picture Books to Read 32
Tool #4 When You're Mad-Breathe with the Big Bad Wolf 32
Tool #5 Coloring Pages to Help Chill Out 33
Chapter 2 Who Has the Power? 35
What is a Power Struggle? 36
Tool #1 Morning Routine 37
Tool #2 Calming Cards 40
Tool #3 The 3 P's: Problem-Solve, Plan, Patience 43
Tool #4 Order Less and Ask More 45
Tool #5 Empathy through Storytelling 46
Power Struggle Journal 48
For Your Kids 49
Tool #1 Kids Calming Cards 50
Tool #2 Flower-Petal Trick 52
Tool #3 Mini Gathering 54
Tool #4 Write or Draw It Out 55
Tool #5 Offer or Ask for a Hug 56
Chapter 3 The Golden Child 57
Tool #1 Fair Treatment 58
Tool #2 Be Present 65
Tool #3 Special One-on-One Time 65
Tool #4 Play Together as a Family 67
For Your Kids 71
Tool #1 Plan Playtime 72
Tool #2 Create a Project Together 73
Tool #3 Kindness Box 74
Tool #4 Five Awesome Picture Books 75
Chapter 4 Worry Is Not Your Friend 76
Tool #1 Dot Activity 78
Tool #2 Write It Out and Rip It Up 79
Tool #3 Get to the Root 80
Tool #4 Positive Affirmations 82
Tool #5 Releasing Fears: Guided Meditation 85
For Your Kids 87
Tool #1 What Do You See, Hear, Smell, and Feel? 88
Tool #2 Name the Worry 88
Tool #3 Big Breaths 91
Tool #4 Practice and Then Practice Again 92
Tool #5 Changing the Movie in Your Mind 93
Chapter 5 Weapons of Mass Distraction 95
Tool #1 Examining Your Relationship with Screens 96
Tool #2 Understand the Research 99
Tool #3 Awareness of Your Actions 101
Tool #4 Healthy Ways to increase Dopamine 102
Tool #5 Beware of the Compare-and-Despair Trap 104
Tool #6 Screen Time for Kids! 107
Tool #7 Screen-Time Tool Review 116
For Your Kids 118
Tool #1 Imagine You Were the Adult 118
Tool #2 Positives and Negatives of Screen Time 120
Tool #3 Four Tips to Balance Screen Time 121
Chapter 6 It's All Negative Self-Talk 123
Tool #1 Contrary Thoughts 125
Tool #2 One Kind Act Each Day 128
Tool #3 Daily Journal Prompts 130
Tool #4 Fourteen of My Favorite Books 132
For Your Kids 133
Tool #1 Be Clear with Your Words 134
Tool #2 Daily Reflection: What Do You Like about Yourself? 136
Tool #3 What Do You Do When You Make a Mistake? 136
Tool #4 Kindness Counts: One Kind Act Each Day 137
Chapter 7 Did You Hear What I Said? 140
Tool #1 What's My Part? And Contrary Actions! 142
Tool #2 Order Less, Ask More, and Offer a Choice! 145
Tool #3 Getting Down to Eye Level 147
Tool #4 Create Routines 149
For Your Kids 151
Tool #1 Listening Games 152
Tool #2 Mindful-Listening Meditation 155
Tool #3 Making a Rain Stick 156
Tool #4 Audiobooks and Podcasts for Kids 158
Tool #5 Story Games 160
Chapter 8 It's Tool Time! 162
Toolbox for You 163
Toolbox for Your Child 164
Section 2 Create Meaningful Change 165
Chapter 9 Mind-Full to Mindful 166
Tool #1 Understand the Myths of Meditation 167
Tool #2 Cultivating Your Meditation Practice 170
Tool #3 Guided Meditation 171
Tool #4 Mindfulness for Daily Living 173
Tool #5 Six Mindfulness Practices 177
For Your Kids 183
Mindfulness 183
Tool #1 Mindful Body Scan 184
Tool #2 Mindful Breath 187
Tool #3 Mindful-Alien Eating 188
Tool #4 Mindful Walking 189
Tool #5 Meditation 189
Chapter 10 How to Start and End Your Day 192
Tool #1 Carve Out Time Each Morning for Meditation 193
Tool #2 Morning Quiet Reflection with Journal Prompt 195
Tool #3 Morning Gratitude Ritual 196
Tool #4 Evening Thank-You Box 196
Tool #5 Healthy Evening Habits 197
For Your Kids 200
Tool #1 Morning Gratitude at Breakfast 201
Tool #2 Three Simple Morning Stretches 201
Tool #3 Mini Morning Story 204
Tool #4 Short Morning Meditation 205
Tool #5 Evening: Thorn, Bud, Rose 206
Tool #6 Evening Thankful Box 207
Notes 210
Acknowledgments 213
About the Author 215
