Gaston County Triple P - Positive Parenting Program

05/26/2026

If watching your child climb a tree, jump from high playground equipment or ride a bike to the park with friends makes you nervous, you're not alone.

The world can feel like a scary and dangerous place sometimes, and every parent and caregiver wants to keep their child safe. At the same time, for children to learn and grow they need to take some risks and try new things.

Finding the right balance between encouraging safety and adventure in our children can be difficult. But when we get it right, the benefits are huge. Research shows when children are given opportunities to play adventurously and take appropriate risks, it can do wonders for their mental health, confidence and independence1.

So what does healthy risk taking look like? And how can we best support our kids to discover their capabilities without worrying ourselves sick?

Find out how to support your child to take healthy risks and discover their capabilities.

05/18/2026

Monday, May 18, 2026.

05/18/2026

In this three-part series on children’s mental health, learn about perfectionism, healthy risk taking and everyday habits to build kids’ emotional resilience, to help you parent with confidence and support your child’s well-being.

Does your child often get upset when they make small mistakes? Or give up quickly when trying something new? It could be they’re showing signs of perfectionism.

Being a perfectionist might not seem that harmful at first. As a parent or caregiver you might even be wondering, what’s wrong with my child aiming high or trying to do their best?

While having high expectations can be beneficial, when children feel they need to be perfect this can lead to mental and physical health problems. Research shows perfectionism can be closely linked to anxiety disorders in children and teenagers1. And left unaddressed, childhood anxiety usually continues into adulthood2.

The good news is, if you feel your child has some perfectionistic tendencies, there are lots of ways you can help turn things around. From spotting the early signs to normalizing mistakes, find out how to help your child overcome perfectionism.

Get simple, practical strategies to help kids overcome perfectionism and support their mental health.

05/12/2026

EVERYDAY HABITS FOR CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH FITNESS START AT HOME

Anxiety and depression are on the rise in children, with an estimated one in seven experiencing mental health problems. For parents and caregivers, that number can be concerning.
So what can you do to strengthen your child’s mental health to help them feel good, build emotional resilience and cope with life’s challenges?

Building good mental health habits doesn’t need to be complicated. Creating positive family interactions, modeling how you handle stress well and looking after yourself can all go a long way in helping your child build their mental health muscles.

In the age of helicopter parenting, supporting children to take healthy risks and discover their capabilities is also important. While finding the right balance between encouraging safety and adventure in our children can be difficult, when we get it right, the benefits are huge.

When it comes to children’s mental health, perfectionistic tendencies can be overlooked. Spotting the early signs, normalizing mistake making in your home, and praising your child for effort instead of results all make a big difference in supporting their mental health and well-being.

Read Triple P’s latest articles on children’s mental health to learn more about perfectionism, healthy risk taking and everyday habits to build kids’ emotional resilience to help you parent with confidence.

Discover 10 easy ways to boost your child’s mental health fitness and support their well-being.

04/16/2026

Target Store Gastonia Car Seat Trade-in starts on 4/19/26. We will be there April 29th to help you install that new car seat or the one you already have!

03/13/2026

There’s no shortage of problems going to school can bring up, whether it’s challenging behaviors, friendship dramas, poor grades or sore tummies in the morning.

Every parent and caregiver wants their child to enjoy school, reach their potential and make friends, but it’s not always as easy as it sounds.

Discover the parenting ideas and routines that help kids succeed at school, build confidence and form positive relationships with others.

09/05/2025

5 FRIENDSHIP SKILLS EVERY CHILD NEEDS

Imagine your child comes to you and says, “No one will play with me.” Your heart sinks. It’s perfectly natural to want to jump in and fix it—but what’s the best way to teach kids about friendship?
Positive parenting offers a calm, positive approach, empowering kids through everyday conversations and connection. By listening first and gently guiding them to solve problems, you can help them navigate friendship challenges with confidence. In fact, Triple P research shows children with healthy friendships have parents who coach them through challenges, help them connect with friends and who have a warm and close relationship.

A coaching mindset and a warm and close relationship are key when supporting kids with friendship challenges. Read on to find out how.

06/23/2025

PRESSING PAUSE ON TECH TANTRUMS: POSITIVE SWITCH-OFF STRATEGIES

Does managing screen time feel like a daily battle in your family? If so, you’re not alone. Many parents face frustration and pushback, but these challenges don’t mean you’re doing anything wrong.
The pull of screens is strong, and kids easily lose track of time: what feels like five minutes can turn into fifty. Many apps and games trigger dopamine responses, making it harder to step away. So when the screen goes off, children are not just pausing a game: they are abruptly ending something deeply absorbing and enjoyable.

But with the right tools and strategies, you can turn screen time struggles into opportunities for balance and connection, for any age group. By making screen time predictable, introducing engaging follow-on activities, using visual timers, and modeling calm responses to frustration, we can help kids navigate tech challenges with confidence.

Simple ways to help kids switch off without meltdowns and build healthier screen time habits

05/07/2025

Based on a recent Triple P Parenting Survey, we know that many parents are worried about their children’s screen use and want more guidance on managing this. It’s common to feel guilty for allowing our children to use screens, yet this guilt isn’t great for their development either, as it can cause us to feel more stressed and impact our relationship with them.

How to navigate kids’ screen time for improved digital habits, mental health, and family well-being

05/06/2025

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. How are you practicing Mental Fitness? Finding ‘balance’ in our lives can feel like a daily challenge. We might imagine it as an evenly weighted set of scales, with one side holding up parenting and family time, while the other side carries everything else – be it our workday, study, the endless housework, maybe even time for self-care and interests. Sounds nice, doesn’t it? But is this type of balance realistic for parents? Well, that might depend on how we look at it…

Explore practical parenting tips to reduce stress, boost well-being, and improve mental health