Parents should be able to develop goals about the type of parents they want to be.

Sometimes offering support and making yourself available when the child or adolescent is ready to talk can be the most helpful you can be.

Prioritizing listening to their child or adolescent is extremely important. It can be very hard to listen to someone who is upset or troubled without offering advice or suggestions or otherwise telling him or her what to do.

Somewhat paradoxically, parenting programs should focus on the behavior of the parents not the behavior of the children.

One of the most important goals to have may well be the goal to create the life you want without preventing other people from creating the life they want.

Spending time with the child or adolescent in mutually enjoyable activities on a regular basis will help to build warmth and trust.

Once parents have a clear idea of their important parenting goals, beliefs, and values, they can then think about specific situations and identify the outcomes they would like to achieve in these situations. How can you be the parent you want to be whether or not your children are behaving as you would prefer?