Worth Exploring
Disclaimer: We are not affiliated with or sponsored by any of the resources listed here. They are included because we believe they may be helpful for families.
This book teaches parents how to shift from commands and corrections to declarative language. Instead of telling kids what to do, it models ways to describe situations and guide thinking. This approach works especially well for children who resist direct instructions or struggle with flexible thinking.
A science-based look at behavior through a nervous-system lens. Instead of seeing behavior as “good” or “bad,” it helps parents understand what a child’s brain and body might be experiencing. The book explains regulation, safety, and connection in a very practical way.
A great introduction to sensory processing differences. Many behavior challenges actually stem from sensory overload or sensory seeking. This book helps parents recognize those patterns and provides simple ways to support kids at home.
Written directly for kids, not just parents. It helps children understand emotions, impulses, and difficult situations in plain language. It’s especially helpful for literal thinkers who benefit from clear explanations.
Ford Driving Skills for Life is a free program that teaches teens and new drivers about real-world driving risks. It covers topics like distracted driving, hazard recognition, speed control, and how to react to unexpected situations on the road. The program includes videos, activities, and lessons that help new drivers understand how quickly driving situations can change.
This program works well alongside the Safety Plan Activity (SPA), because they focus on different skills. Ford Driving Skills for Life focuses on practical driving techniques and road awareness, while the SPA focuses more on managing emotions, expectations, and cognitive load for both the parent and the child during driving practice. Using both together can help families prepare for the technical side of driving and the mental demands that come with it.
A nonprofit focused on collaborative problem solving for children with challenging behavior. Their site includes free guides, videos, and tools parents can use to identify unsolved problems and work through them with kids.
Known mostly for couples research, but their parenting material is excellent. They focus on “emotion coaching,” helping children recognize and work through emotions rather than suppress them.
A widely used framework that helps children categorize emotions into color-coded zones. It provides tools for recognizing emotional states and learning strategies to regulate them.
Behavior Buddies are simple visual tools that help children identify emotions and behaviors. They give kids a concrete way to understand feelings like anger, frustration, or worry and what actions might help them calm down. Visual supports like these are especially helpful for younger children or literal thinkers who benefit from clear, concrete explanations.