The Think Space

The Think Space is a plan to help children take responsibility for their own behavioral choices while offering adults a safe and responsible way to remove themselves from the emotional loop of misbehavior.

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QuikTips Bundles

QuikTips is a series of short, practical articles that feature easy-to-use tools for low-stress child management.

Bundled in small packets, and arranged by topic for easy reference.

Learn more....

Everything you say to a child either builds him up or tears him down.
There is no middle ground.

- Carolyn Richert

What are QuikTips?

QuikTips is a series of short, practical articles, written by Calvin and Carolyn Richert, that feature easy-to-use tools for low-stress child management.

All techniques presented meet strict scientific and ethical guidelines and have been carefully "road-tested" for effectiveness in everyday use. Every method is thoroughly positive and, when used as intended, can help children develop skills of self-management, confidence, empathy and the many other positive character qualities needed in becoming well-adjusted, productive adults.

Also available for purchase: QuikTips Bundles are pre-printed small packets, arranged by topic for easy reference.

Motivating Children

Part One of Two on Positive Leadership

"If you don't come right now, I'm going to leave you here!"

Threats & Warnings: Underminers of Parental Leadership

Now, you're not going to do that...and Kisha knows it. So, why DO you say things like that?

I know. You think that the threat of negative consequences will help her listen. But do they? Maybe, in the short run, but definitely not in the long run!

Part Two of Two on Positive Leadership

Replacing Threats & Warnings: Parental Leadership Turned Positive

If threats and warnings are underminers of parental leadership, as we suggested in last month's article, then today's parents must be in a world of hurt. And they are!

It's a well-known fact that in many (if not most) school classrooms, 75% - 80% of the day is spent on disciplinary issues. The same thing is probably true in the homes of those children. Why is that?

Here's a great question that we recently received over the internet.

THE QUESTION: "How do you get kids to get ready to go places without constant reminders / nagging / yelling?"

Taking the Kids As Is

OUR RESPONSE: * This may seem radical, but it is totally logical and the consequences are totally natural. You will only need to do this exercise one or two times with most children, but everyone will benefit for years to come.

From Bedtime Blues to Everytime Snooze

Is bedtime a hassle in your home? We are frequently asked about that, so here's a 5-star plan for helping children go to bed willingly, without threats or bribes. The same plan works, whether for naps or night sleep. We love it and you will too.

  • Consistent Bed Time - Choose and enforce a regular bed or naptime. Children simply function better with a set routine, whether they act that way at bedtime or not.

The Cost of Fun - Part 1 of 4

What Does Punishment Really Teach? (1 of 4)

More and more studies show that punishing misbehavior - especially in children - almost always does more to encourage a misbehavior than to correct it!

But, why does punishment work that way?

There are at least four basic weaknesses in the practice of punishing a child for misbehavior. In this article we will treat just one. The others will come later.

To do the same thing again! - Part 2 of 4

What Does Punishment Really Teach? (2 of 4) A frustrated mother quizzed us, "Why does my older daughter keep using her younger sister's clothes without asking, even though we consistently punish her for it? "

"What kind of punishments have you been using? " I asked her.

A Foundation of Fear - Part 3 of 4

As an energetic four-year-old waits impatiently for his food, he blurts out, "Mom, why are you so slow? "

Instinctively, Mom returns with, "Sam, you'd better change your attitude right now before I send you to your room without any supper at all! "

What Does Punishment Really Teach? (3 of 4)

And so begins an ugly exchange that, in fact, ends up with a punishment -- the child is sent to his room without supper.

How To Treat Other People - Part 4 of 4

The famous poem, “Children Learn What They Live,”* begins,

What Does Punishment Really Teach? (4 of 4)

“If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn.

“If he lives with hostility, he learns to fight,” and so on.

If we would relate such thinking to punishment, that line might read,

Our MISSION

To train adults in the use of positive guidance tools that encourage the inner growth of children.

Learning to communicate with and motivate children to make decisions with their heads and hearts.

Our LOGO

The Heart represents the inner child, which is our primary focus.

DWD Logo - Heart with Arrow

The Arrow shows the outward flow of a balanced child’s energy & awareness.

Our TAG LINE

"... from the inside out" defines the foundation of true character development.

OUTSIDE-IN is how almost all adults teach children until they learn the skills of DWD.

Our FOCUS

  • To help children balance the ‘all about me’ syndrome of childhood.
  • To raise children to be authentic at their core instead of superficial.
  • To guide children to use respect as their basis of interaction with others.