Child Behavior Blog

Practical, research-backed strategies for meltdowns, defiance, aggression, and ADHD from child psychologist Dr. Emily Gault. New articles every week.

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Routines

How to Improve Routines in Kids and Teens

Why routines fall apart, and the small structural fix that tends to hold.

Aug 23Read article
Real Examples

What to Do When Daycare Drop-Off Falls Apart

Applying the framework to one of the hardest five minutes of the parenting day.

Aug 16Read article
Midweek Check-In

Midweek Check-In: How Long Are Escalations Lasting?

What a shrinking escalation window actually tells you about progress.

Aug 6Read article
Step 4

Parent Step 4: Why Escalation Keeps Winning in Your House

The reinforcement cycle behind meltdowns that seem to spiral no matter what you try.

Aug 2Read article
Opinion

A Reflection on Parent Screen Time

What the research on "technoference" says about parent phone use, and why Special Time works partly because it's phone-free.

Jul 31Read article
Midweek Check-In

Parent Step 3 Midweek Check-In

Why Special Time sometimes feels harder than it should, and what to do about it.

Jul 29Read article
Step 3

Parent Step 3: Giving Your Child a Sense of Control

Why control-seeking behavior often isn't about defiance at all.

Jul 26Read article
Real Examples

How Parents Improved the Transition From Play Time to Dinner

A common transition point, and what changed once one family applied the framework to it.

Jul 24Read article
Opinion

Where I Part Ways With Montessori on Praise

A clinical psychologist's honest take on where the Montessori approach to praise falls short.

Jul 21Read article
Reflection

Staying in Step 2 (On Purpose)

Why moving too fast through the framework works against you.

Jul 19Read article
Midweek Check-In

Parent Step 2 Midweek Check-In: How Is Strategic Labeled Praise Actually Going?

How Strategic Labeled Praise is actually landing, three days in.

Jul 15Read article
Step 2

Parent Step #2: Strategic Labeled Praise

Why "Good job!" isn't doing what most parents think it's doing.

Jul 12Read article
About this newsletter

This Substack Is for Parents on Child Therapy Waitlists

Who this newsletter is actually written for, and why.

Jul 10Read article
Research

The Treatment Research Says Works Best

What a network meta-analysis of parenting programs actually found, and what most parents are never told.

Jul 10Read article
Step 1

You Know the Behavior. You Don't Know the Pattern Yet.

Why identifying the ABCs of behavior comes before any attempt to change it.

Jul 5Read article
Ready when you are

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