The Behavior Blueprint with Mandy Grass

Join The Behavior Club for monthly live coaching, step-by-step plans and a parent community: https://www.thefamilybehaviorist.com/club?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=sleep-time-changeEmily and Randi, co-founders of Teaching Sweet Sleep, discuss the connection between sleep and behavior in young children. They share how sleep impacts emotional regulation, tantrums, and everyday challenges, al...

Are you stuck in a cycle of defending yourself against accusations like, "you never let me do anything" or "you love my sister more than me?" On this episode, Mandy explains why simply ignoring these behaviors is a recipe for disaster. Get the blueprint on why negative attention is so predictable, why endless reassurance can accidentally reinforce bad behavior, and how to stop engaging in those ex...

Have you ever wondered why your child is an absolute angel for their teacher, coach, and grandparents, but turns into a monster the second they get home with you? On this episode, Mandy validates the frustration of being the "chosen" parent and flips the script to show why this dynamic is actually fantastic behavioral information. From a six-year-old who only swears at his parents, to a child who...

On this episode, Mandy dives into the psychology behind the ultimate parenting trap: power struggles. Learn why it takes two to play tug-of-war and why simply telling your child "because I said so" often makes the argument worse. This blueprint reveals that even when a fight starts over access to a toy or escaping a chore, it almost always morphs into an attention seeking behavior. So tune in and...

Did you know that by age twelve, a child with ADHD may receive roughly 20,000 more negative or corrective comments than their neurotypical peers? On this episode, Mandy gets brutally honest about how easily parents fall into the trap of overcorrecting kids with ADHD. It is time to get correct about correcting, as Mandy dissects the exact moments where her own anxiety led to unnecessary nagging. So...

On this episode, Mandy welcomes Elizabeth, a mom of three, for a live coaching session to troubleshoot her blended family's chaotic mornings and sibling dynamics. Elizabeth shares the struggles of raising a 5-year-old who is constantly distracted during his morning routine, along with managing the intense conflicts of her husband's 14-year-old twin boys. Get a detailed look at what a parenting coa...

As Mandy continues this month's focus on ADHD, on this episode, she brings back her favorite resident expert, her daughter Lola! Lola recently received a diagnosis of a Specific Learning Disability (SLD) alongside her ADHD and takes the mic to publicly rate Mandy's parenting strategies. From the systems that actually help her get out the door to the ones that just feel like nagging, Lola provides...

Kicking off September's ADHD series, Mandy tackles the frustrating reality of raising kids who constantly lose their planners, forget their soccer cleats, and procrastinate on homework. On this episode, Mandy bridges the gap between her personal life and her professional expertise as a behavior analyst and special education teacher. Learn the crucial difference between simply accommodating an ADHD...

If you are exhausted from operating the "Clean Plate Club," acting as a short order cook, or having massive meltdowns over a grilled cheese sandwich, this episode is for you! Mandy steps into the highly controversial territory of picky eating, viewing those mealtime battles through a behavioral lens. Mandy breaks down the behavioral functions behind why kids refuse food and why parents are so easi...

Did the lazy days of summer turn your kids into screen obsessed zombies? On this episode, Mandy gets honest about how technology completely got away from her blended family this summer. From teens scrolling at full volume in the car to loud video games taking over the family room on a rainy day, Mandy breaks down the behavioral functions behind why kids can't put devices down and why parents are s...

Are you dreading the morning chaos of repeating "get your shoes on" 14 times before you've even finished your coffee? In part two of her back-to-school series, Mandy tackles the most common morning pitfalls. On this episode, Mandy breaks down how to identify whether your child is facing a skill deficit (they can't do it) or a performance deficit (they won't do it), and how that distinction complet...

Are you trying to squeeze the last drop of fun out of summer, but secretly dreading the chaos of the back-to-school transition? On this episode, Mandy lays out her comprehensive plan for getting the kids ready for the new school year. As the first school bell of the year draws near, Mandy breaks down what it means to rack up sleep schedules and morning routines before the pressure of the first day...

On this episode, Mandy takes a left turn from her usual behavior and parenting content to get incredibly vulnerable about a highly requested topic: her divorce. Without holding back, Mandy discusses the reality of carrying the entire mental and physical load for her family, the "final straw" that made her realize nothing was going to change, and the beautiful realization of finally being deeply su...

On this episode, Mandy wraps up July’s emotional regulation series with two very special guests: her daughters, Lola and Parker. This midsummer check-in dives into the reality of emotional regulation from the kids' perspective, sharing specific moments where the girls felt empowered to call out the adults in their lives for their tone and reactions. Mandy also does an assessment of the family's ch...

This week, Mandy is joined by her sister, Tiff, for an honest conversation about emotional regulation and generational parenting. Tiff brings a grounded perspective from her career as a science journalist, as she and Mandy unpack what growing up a the loud, "shouty" was like. Mandy and Tiff also discuss how they navigate their own emotional triggers, the concept of "generational overcorrection," a...

In part two of our emotional regulation series, Mandy shares more real life parenting stories that prove it takes more than just taking deep breaths and maintaining perfect calm. From a sibling standoff over pool floats to managing a 1-year-old's anxiety over new braces, Mandy explains how to look past the misbehavior to find the function. Get strategies for modeling repair, what to do when your k...

If you are looking for an expert to simply tell you to "take a deep breath" and never yell at your kids, this is not the podcast for you. In this highly relatable episode, Mandy turns the behavioral lens inward to tackle parent emotional regulation. Using the same ABCs of behavior (Antecedent, Behavior, Consequence) applied to children, Mandy explains how to identify your own adult triggers and le...

On this episode, Mandy sits down with Julia Dzafic, the creator behind Lemon Stripes and The Medicated Millennial Mom. Julia opens up about her journey as a content creator, balancing flexible but demanding work hours, and managing a household with an 8-year-old, a 4-year-old, a dog, and 11 chickens. Mandy and Julia dive into what it means to have "Mom Brain" and the invisible mental load that kee...

Are you constantly nagging your teen to get out of bed or take out the garbage? On our next summer series epiosde, Mandy dives deep into the teenage brain to explain why natural consequences often don't work, especially when the consequence actually falls on the parent. Learn all about building external motivation when intrinsic motivation doesn't exist, how to successfully "scaffold" independence...

In this very special Father's Day edition of the show, Mandy steps aside to hand the microphone to three incredible, heavily involved dads from her inner circle. Joining the conversation are Drew (a CPA, avid golfer, and youth coach extraordinaire), Hunter (a serial entrepreneur navigating life with ADHD and an only child), and Mandy's partner Gerry (you know Gerry). The dads get completely honest...

Are you dreading the constant summer chorus of "I'm bored," "You never told me I had to do that," and endless screen time negotiations? You aren't alone. We all know how quickly summer can spiral into chaos, but this can be avoided if boundaries are established from day one! On this episode, Mandy shares the exact "Summer Contract" she created with her blended family. She breaks down how to differ...

Does it feel like May and June are somehow more exhausting than December? The end of the school year can be a nightmare for parents, but before you throw your hands up and abandon all structure on day one of summer, Mandy has the plan to help make this brief, but vital time period a manable one. Of course, the sudden loss of predictability often leads to irritable, fighting kids by day four. And s...

If you think managing one or two kids is chaotic, imagine blending a family with seven children, two giant dogs, and up to 14 extracurricular activities! In this special episode of The Behavior Blueprint, Mandy welcomes her partner, Gerry, to share their story, how they went about blended Gerry's four boys and Mandy's three girls into a modern day Brady Bunch! Find out the thought behind why they...

If you have ever listened to the show or seen one of Mandy's reels and thought, "does she actually do this in her own house?", this episode is for you! Mandy and two of her daughters are pulling back the curtain on their own family dynamics, as they share how they utilize shared journaling and the five-minute rule. In this special behind-the-scenes episode, Mandy, Lola, and Parker discuss how they...

You asked, and Mandy is answering! In this special Q&A edition of the Behavior Blueprint, Mandy takes listener questions straight from Instagram to provide the deep dive answers that just won't fit into a 90-second reel. Covering everything from the logistics of starting an ADHD medication journey to managing those massive soap messes in the bathroom, this episode gets into what is on your mind as...