Helpful Resources
Guides for the busy Mom
Parenting has its joys and challenges. In our effort to help moms in their quest for a less stressful, more productive and rewarding parenting, we have put together our combined experience for over 35 years with children and parents as a pediatrician and as a school psychologist to create a practical card series we lovingly refer to as “Hang in There”. This quick, skill based reference guide covers specific issues busy moms may be dealing with from newborns to school age children. While moms may want to read a book for more details and a more complete understanding of an issue, these cards can provide them with information for immediate action. They serve as a quick reminder of the specific steps they can use right now. Their convenient and portable format allows them to hang the set on their diaper bag or purse for easy accessibility. These quick resources are certainly not intended to take the place of a physician, psychologist, or other health care professionals. This information should certainly not be used for diagnosing or treating a health care problem, or prescribing any medication. Our patients love them and you will too. Take a look at our website hangNthere.com or through amazon.com.
Remember to always “notice the positives and praise often”!
Gina Penaflor, MD-Pediatrician
Patricia Gage, PhD, NCSP-School Psychologist
Behavior Charts Work!
Consistency and clearly stated rules and expectations are the
keys to positive discipline. Pay attention and notice the positive
behaviors and reward your child often. Children need consistent
positive feedback to learn and practice appropriate behavior.
The focus needs to be on specific behaviors you want them to
demonstrate not on the behavior you want them to stop. Behavior
charts are a fun and interactive way to encourage and motivate
positive behavior.
Kids really like earning stickers or points and you’ll find they are
willing to work for a special reward or treat at the end of the week.
Make the chart together and create the menu of things he/she
can select to work for each week. Don’t expect quick results. If
the target behavior is very challenging for the child set the goal at
50% compliance. If the child at times demonstrates the particular
targeted behavior but not consistently start at 80% compliance.
If he/she earns 80% of the stickers or check marks for the week he/she
should earn his reward. When he/she consistently accomplishes that for
two to three weeks move on to 85% compliance.