The Parent Steps framework

Articles for parents navigating behavioral challenges

Research-backed strategies for tantrums, defiance, aggression, and everyday power struggles, written by a licensed clinical child psychologist and taught step by step. New articles every week, in the order Dr. Emily teaches them in practice.

July 4

The ABCs of Behavior

Understand the pattern behind your child's behavior before you try to change it. The foundational first step of the Parent Steps framework.

July 8

Parent Step 1: Midweek Check-In

A quick check-in on your observation week, with more real ABC examples from everyday family life.

July 10

The Treatment Research Says Works Best

Decades of research point to one approach for severe child behavioral challenges. Almost no one has heard of it.

July 10

For Parents on Child Therapy Waitlists

Why the Parent Steps framework exists, who it's for, and what you'll actually get from it each week.

July 12

Strategic Labeled Praise

The single most research-backed strategy in behavioral parent training, and why most parents are doing it slightly wrong.

July 15

Parent Step 2: Midweek Check-In

How to tell if strategic labeled praise is landing, what to do if your child pushes back, and how often to actually praise.

July 19

Staying in Step 2, On Purpose

Why one week of strategic labeled praise isn't enough, and how to tell if you're ready to move on.

July 20

Your Strategic Labeled Praise Scripts

Exact phrasing for strategic labeled praise, organized by target behavior and daily routine.

July 21

Where I Part Ways With Montessori on Praise

Montessori discourages praise. Here's the clinical case for why strategic labeled praise actually builds the independence Montessori is after.

July 24

Case Study: The Play-to-Dinner Meltdown

How one family used Parent Steps 1 and 2 to end a nightly battle over cleaning up toys for dinner.

July 26

Special Time

Why five focused minutes a day changes listening, cooperation, and connection more than an hour of unstructured time together.

July 29

Parent Step 3: Midweek Check-In

Troubleshooting the most common ways special time goes sideways in week one, and exactly what to do about it.

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