Self-Help Resources

Parenting information and tools are organized here, with links to additional resources. If your child is exhibiting behavioral problems and you are having difficulty managing or coping with these problems, you may also find information posted under other behavioral health categories for children on this web site to be helpful.

Fact Sheets and Handouts

Discipline Guide
Learning how to effectively discipline your child is an important skill that all parents need to learn. Learn how to encourage good behavior, implement effective discipline techniques, utilize time-out, and more in this comprehensive guide.

Parenting Tips
Even loving parents sometimes say or do things they don't mean, like yelling at a child. If you think you're having trouble controlling your anger or handling your frustration, get help right away and prevent your behavior from becoming abusive.

About Discipline—Helping Children Develop Self-Control
As parents teach children appropriate behavior, and what the expected rules and boundaries are for the family, it's important to remember the goals of discipline. Discipline means helping a child develop self control and a sense of limits, experience the consequences of behaviors, and learn from mistakes.

Positive Consequences Mean Keep Up The Good Work!
A positive consequence can be your best friend because it reinforces and encourages positive behavior. Learn more by reading this brief handout.

Reaching Goals with Charts and Contracts
One effective way to change your children's behavior is to use charts and contracts - agreements between you and your children that spell out what they will receive from you when they behave in certain ways.

Are You Losing Your Cool with Your Kids?
Parenting is a difficult job. It is not uncommon for parents to feel frustrated sometimes. Learn tips to help you stay calm while parenting.

Communicating with Your Adolescent
The changes that occur during adolescence are often confusing for both you and your son or daughter. Learn more about how to communicate more effectively with your teen.

Decision Making and Problem-Solving with Teens
Learning and using a decision-making and problem-solving process will help teen grow toward responsible adults. Cooperative problem solving is a way to deal with disagreements between parent and teen.

When to Seek Help for Your Child

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

Parent Training
Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies

Video/Audio Files

Normal Adolescent Development and Behaviors
Learn the differences between mood swings and identity formation, as a normal developmental stage of adolescence. Recognize the warning signs that can indicate illness or future behavioral problems? Teens learn tips for dealing with stress at school and forming a personal identity.

Parenting Pointers
Understand how children express feelings and how they learn. There are several brief video clips on tantrums, communication, and more.

A Minute for Kids Audio Files
Several brief audio files for parents. Topics include sibling relationships, time out, teen issues, and more.

Books & Workbooks

What Every Parent Should Know
Free e-book from Girls and Boys Town offers facts on dangers affecting today’s youth. Whether you’re a mom or dad looking for assurance or struggling to keep your kids free from trouble, this compact guide puts proven solutions at your fingertips.

SOS: Help for Parents
L. Clark & J. Robb

Your Defiant Child: Eight Steps to Better Behavior
R. A. Barkley & C. M. Benton

Living with Children: New Methods for Parents and Teachers
G. R. Patterson

Little People: Guidelines for Common Sense Child Rearing
E. R. Christophersen, D. Graves, & M. Walter

Beyond Discipline: Parenting That Lasts a Lifetime
E. R. Christophersen

The Parent's Handbook: Systematic Training for Effective Parenting
D. C. Dinkmeyer, Sr.

Raising An Emotionally Intelligent Child
J. Gottman, J. Declaire, & D. Goleman

Web Links

Kids Health
Positive parenting tips for parents on a variety of topics.

Child Development and Parenting Information
Learn about child development, improving your child’s behavior and ability to learn, raising successful teens, safety issues, and more.

Parent Center
The Behavior Problem Solver helps parents solve a variety of behavior problems, such as tantrums, thumb sucking, sibling rivalry, etc. Select your child’s age and problem to access developmentally appropriate information.

The Incredible Years
Research-based programs that have proven effective in reducing children's aggression and behavior problems along with and increasing social competence at home and at school.

Directive Parenting
A program teaches you essential parenting skills to help you improve your child's negative, hostile, and defiant behavior. The fee is $75 for up to three months.

Military OneSource
Parenting information relevant for a military audience includes child care, parenting skills, stages of development, and more. Visitors on this site may be required to create a User ID and Password. Visitors are not required to disclose personal information other than branch of service and unit location.

Coming Together Around Military Separation: Supporting our Babies and Toddlers Campaign
Zero to Three
Addresses the ways that parents and caregivers can support young children through military-specific challenges, such as deployment and relocation.

Veteran and Military Family Health
U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institute of Health

Fishful Thinking
A resource for parenting positive kids.