Behaviour Management

When our children’s big feelings collide with our own, even the calmest parent can feel overwhelmed. I still remember the day I had to step away, two toddlers screaming, my chest tight, and no calm left to give. Co-regulation doesn’t always look perfect; sometimes it begins with admitting we’re drowning. But it’s in the repair, the reconnecting, that children learn safety, resilience and connection.

Positive reinforcement is far more than praise or stickers; it’s how children learn, build confidence, and understand their strengths. Research shows it creates lasting improvements in empathy, cooperation, and self-regulation. When mistakes are met with calm guidance rather than punishment, children grow rather than withdraw. Positive reinforcement isn’t permissive; it’s structured, relational, and truly transformative.

Discover why everyday demands can feel overwhelming for autistic children with a PDA profile. Learn how anxiety, not defiance, drives avoidance, and explore calm, connection-based strategies to support your child and yourself.

By Kelly Hutton A key component to parenting is knowing when you are stressed. If you have ever found yourself negotiating with a toddler about putting their shoes on in January, you'll know parenting can sometimes feel like a full-contact sport. My youngest, for instance, used to make every school run an exercise in emotional endurance, shoes? No. Coat? Absolutely not. Tantrums? Loud, occasionally airborne (the toys, not the child). And then there's the stage where an eight-