Group A: Fostering Independence Handout

Instructions: In your small group, read each scenario, discuss the questions, and jot down your ideas in the spaces provided. Focus on practical strategies you can implement at home to nurture your child’s autonomy and confidence.

Scenario 1: Morning Homework Routine

Your child often waits until the last minute to start homework, then asks you to guide each step. This creates tension and frustration.

1. What aspect of independence is being challenged in this scenario?

1. What concrete steps can you take to encourage your child to plan and initiate homework on their own?

1. How will you know when your strategy is working? What success looks like?

Scenario 2: Weekend Activity Choice

When asked what they’d like to do on a Saturday, your child says, “I don’t care,” and expects you to decide everything.

1. How can you help your child express preferences and make choices?

1. What tools or structures (e.g., choice menus, planning charts) could support decision-making?

1. How might you gradually reduce your involvement over time?

Scenario 3: Preparing Their Own Snack

Your child always asks you to prepare after-school snacks, even when they have time and know where ingredients are.

1. What is the underlying independence skill your child needs to practice?

1. Describe a step-by-step plan for teaching them to prepare a snack on their own.

1. How can you offer support while avoiding taking over?

Scenario 4: Planning a Family Outing

Your child joins family trips but leaves all the planning and logistics to you.

1. Which independence competencies could you assign to your child in planning an outing?

1. How will you coach them through challenges (e.g., budgeting, route planning) without doing it for them?

1. What follow-up questions or reflection prompts will you use after the outing?

Reflection & Action Steps

1. Identify two specific tasks you will encourage your child to handle independently this week:

1. For each task, write one sentence explaining how you will support them without overtaking the activity:

Prepare to share one of your action steps during the Group Share-Out.

Group B: Encouraging Responsibility Handout

Instructions: In your small group, read each scenario, discuss the questions, and jot down your ideas in the spaces provided. Focus on strategies to help your child take ownership of tasks and commitments at home.

Scenario 1: Missing Chores

Your child is repeatedly forgetting to take out the trash and complete assigned household chores.

1. Which element of responsibility is lacking in this scenario?

1. How can you create a clear system (e.g., chore chart, reminders) to track tasks and completion dates?

1. What incentives or natural consequences could you introduce to reinforce consistent completion?

Scenario 2: Homework Deadlines

Your child turns in homework late or asks for deadline extensions at the last minute.

1. What underlying skills (e.g., planning, time management) does your child need to develop?

1. What tools or routines (e.g., calendar app, whiteboard schedule) can you provide to support timely work?

1. How will you monitor progress without hovering, and how will you follow up if deadlines are missed?

Scenario 3: Caring for Personal Belongings

Your child frequently loses books, sports gear, or school supplies and relies on you to replace them.

1. What responsibility mindset do you want your child to develop regarding their belongings?

1. How can you set up organizing systems or routines to help them keep track of items?

1. What fair consequences or cost-sharing strategies might encourage them to be more careful?

Scenario 4: Participating in Team Projects

Your child is part of a group project but leaves most of the work to classmates and asks you to step in.

1. Which aspects of collaboration and accountability should your child practice?

1. How can you coach them to negotiate roles, set expectations, and communicate with peers?

1. What reflection questions will you ask after the project to reinforce learning and responsibility?

Reflection & Action Steps

1. Identify two specific responsibilities you will encourage your child to own this week:

1. For each responsibility, describe how you will hold them accountable while offering support:

Prepare to share one of your action steps during the Group Share-Out.

Group C: Building Emotional Security Handout

Instructions: In your small group, read each scenario, discuss the questions, and jot down your ideas in the spaces provided. Focus on practical strategies you can implement at home to strengthen your child’s sense of safety and emotional well-being.

Scenario 1: Late-Night Worries

Your child often lies awake at night with racing thoughts, unable to fall asleep.

1. What underlying emotion is dominating this scenario?

1. How can you create a calming bedtime routine that fosters a sense of security?

1. What regular check-in or ritual can you establish to address your child’s worries before lights out?

Scenario 2: Morning Separation Anxiety

Your child clings to you at the school door, tearful about being apart.

1. How can you prepare your child for transitions and reassure them before drop-off?

1. What object, phrase, or ritual could serve as an emotional anchor during the day?

1. How will you support gradual separation while reinforcing trust and confidence?

Scenario 3: Handling Fear of Failure

After receiving a disappointing test grade, your child becomes upset and withdraws.

1. How might you validate your child’s feelings without minimizing their disappointment?

1. What strategies can you model to help them manage frustration and regain calm?

1. How can you guide your child to view mistakes as learning opportunities rather than threats?

Scenario 4: Sibling Conflict Impact

An argument between siblings leaves one child feeling unsafe and emotionally shaken.

1. How can you mediate the conflict to restore family harmony and security?

1. What one-on-one conversations can reinforce your unconditional support to each child?

1. How will you rebuild trust and ensure emotional safety after the disagreement?

Reflection & Action Steps

1. Identify two specific ways you will nurture emotional security at home this week:

1. For each strategy, describe how you will recognize when your child feels more secure and supported:

Prepare to share one of your action steps during the Group Share-Out.

Group D: Setting Clear Boundaries Handout

Instructions: In your small group, read each scenario, discuss the questions, and jot down your ideas in the spaces provided. Focus on establishing and maintaining clear, consistent boundaries at home to support your child’s sense of safety and structure.

Scenario 1: Screen Time and Homework

Your child expects unlimited device use and often interrupts homework time to check games or social media.

1. What specific boundary is missing in this scenario?

1. How can you clearly communicate a rule that balances homework and screen time?

1. What consistent consequence or follow-through will you apply if the boundary is crossed?

Scenario 2: Bedtime Resistance

Despite a set lights-out time, your child negotiates repeatedly for extra reading or screen use, leading to late nights and tired mornings.

1. Which boundary about bedtime routines needs clarification?

1. What steps will you take to communicate and reinforce the bedtime limit?

1. How will you handle repeated requests to push the boundary without giving in?

Scenario 3: Personal Space Invasion

Your child complains that their siblings enter their room uninvited, and parental reminders have no lasting effect.

1. Why is it important to establish a boundary around personal space in your home?

1. How can you define fair rules for entering each other’s rooms and communicate them clearly?

1. What system of reminders or consequences will support consistent respect for personal space?

Scenario 4: No-Devices at Family Meals

Mealtime routines are disrupted because your child brings a phone or tablet to the table, even after being asked not to.

1. What boundary will you set regarding device use during meals?

1. How will you introduce and explain this rule to ensure buy-in and understanding?

1. What positive reinforcement or logical consequence will encourage adherence to the mealtime boundary?

Reflection & Action Steps

1. Identify two specific boundaries you will establish or reinforce at home this week:

1. For each boundary, write one sentence describing how you will communicate it, enforce it consistently, and measure its success:

Prepare to share one of your action steps during the Group Share-Out.

Action Plan Worksheet

Instructions: Use this worksheet to commit to two specific, measurable at-home actions. Be as precise as possible—include what you will do, when you will do it, and how you will know it’s working.

Action 1

1. What I will do:

1. Start date & end date:

1. Success indicators (how I will measure progress):

Action 2

1. What I will do:

1. Start date & end date:

1. Success indicators:

Accountability & Follow-Up

Who will I share this plan with, and how will we check in? (e.g., partner, spouse, friend)

When will I review my progress? (Date/time)

Prepare to discuss your action steps and accountability plan during the Group Share-Out.