Why Tweens Fight You About Screen Time

More from The Behavior Blueprint with Mandy Grass All episodes →

1. 

   21 Apr 2026 · 26 min

   How to End the Punishment Pile-On and Survive Meltdowns

   If you’ve ever thought, "I just don’t like my kid right now," know this...you aren’t alone and you shouldn’t feel guilty for it. Parenting is tough, especially when you find yourself caught in a cycle of tantrums, backtalk, and exhausting power struggles that leave you with a knot in your stomach at bedtime. On this episode, Mandy breaks down how to move from the seemingly neverending conflict to a place of proactive problem solving. Whether you are navigating a public meltdown at grandma’s house or a nightly standoff over the TV, Mandy provides a blueprint for shifting your focus from…

2. 

   14 Apr 2026 · 23 min

   Why Kids Lie and How to Build a Blueprint for Truth

   Do you find yourself caught in a cyclical argument over something completely provable? Lying can be one of the most triggering behaviors for parents, but it’s often a child's most effective tool for getting what they want or avoiding what they don't. In this episode, Mandy breaks down the "why" behind the lies. Mandy shares strategies from her own blended family, that will give you the blueprint towards the truth! Whether you're dealing with a preschooler sneaking treats or a tween hiding a bad grade, this episode offers up strategies for creating a home where honesty feels safer than a lie.…

3. 

   7 Apr 2026 · 27 min

   Bedtime Battles: A Blueprint for Sleep Transitions and Silent Nights

   Is bedtime a battle in your house? From constant delay tactics to kids popping in and out of their rooms 400 times, sleep related behaviors can drive any parent to the brink of insanity. In this episode, Mandy lays out the bedtime blueprint, focusing on the routines and boundaries that happen before the lights go out! Tools & Resources Website:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠thefamilybehaviorist.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ Social Media: Follow @TheFamilyBehaviorist on⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠ and⁠⁠ TikTok⁠⁠. Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a review! Your feedback helps other parents find the show and lets Mandy know what topics are landing…

4. 

   31 Mar 2026 · 35 min

   A Conversation with My Daughter on ADHD and Anxiety

   Have you ever wondered what is actually going through your child’s mind when they get distracted, overwhelmed, or stuck in a cycle of anxiety? In this special episode, Mandy is joined by a very important guest: her nine-year-old daughter, Lola! Lola gets incredibly honest about her journey with ADHD and anxiety, offering a rare look at the kid perspective on diagnosis, medication, and parenting. This conversation is a beautiful blueprint for how to build trust, foster self-esteem, and work together as a family to overcome these all too common challenges. Tools & Resources Website:⁠⁠…

5. 

   24 Mar 2026 · 30 min

   Why Siblings Fight and How You Can Move from Referee to Coach

   Does it feel like you’re playing hostage negotiator in your kitchen every morning before everyone is out the door? Whether it’s one child breathing "too loudly" or a battle over a toy no one cared about three seconds ago, sibling conflict can be A LOT. On this episode, Mandy breaks down what is actually driving those sibling squabbles and how parents accidentally keep the cycle going. From understanding the function of the fight to implementing group reinforcement systems, Mandy provides a blueprint to bring peace back to your home! Tools & Resources Website:⁠⁠ ⁠thefamilybehaviorist.com⁠⁠⁠…

6. 

   10 Mar 2026 · 30 min

   Why Kids Act Out For Attention (And What Actually Works)

   Do you feel like your child only seems to "act out" the second you pick up your phone, start a conversation with another adult, or try to focus on a sibling? If it feels like you are constantly being pulled away from what you’re doing by disruptive behavior, this episode is for you. In this episode, Mandy explores one of the most common functions of behavior...attention. Find out why children often prefer "bad" attention (like a lecture or a reprimand) over no attention at all and why your reactions might accidentally be aiding the very behaviors you’re trying to stop. Whether you are…

7. 

   3 Mar 2026 · 36 min

   Why ADHD Looks Different For Girls

   If you have a daughter who is bright, empathetic, and verbal, but constantly interrupts, struggles with emotional regulation, or seems easily distracted, this episode is for you! ADHD in girls often doesn't look like the stereotypical hyperactive image we expect, which means it frequently goes unnoticed or misunderstood. In this episode, Mandy dives into the unique ways ADHD presents in girls. from executive functioning deficits to the "embarrassment factor" that can lead to social masking. Find out why these girls are often mislabeled as "chatty" or "dramatic" and get actionable ways…

8. 

   24 Feb 2026 · 26 min

   Why Kids Hit and What You Can Do About It

   If you find yourself constantly saying, "we don't hit!" only to have it happen again five minutes later, this episode is for you! Hitting is a form of communication, and if we only focus on stopping the physical act, we are missing the most important part: why it’s happening in the first place. In this episode, we explore the four functions of behavior and how they apply to physical aggression. Of course there are the traditional consequences like lectures and time-outs, which often fail, so in this episode, Mandy breaks down how we can shift our focus toward teaching "replacement behaviors"…

9. 

   17 Feb 2026 · 30 min

   Morning Routine Battles? Why Kids Resist And How to Reset Your Mornings

   Are your mornings more chaotic than routine? You aren’t alone. In this episode, we dive deep into why routines need regular maintenance and how to use tools like visual schedules, behavioral momentum, and Alexa reminders to take the mental load off parents. Mandy even gets real, revealing her own household’s recent "routine regression" and shares the exact behavioral strategies she used to get seven kids out the door and back on track! Whether you are dealing with a surly teenager who won’t wake up or a four-year-old who refuses to put on socks, this episode provides a step-by-step guide to…

10. 

    10 Feb 2026 · 19 min

    The 4 Reasons Kids Misbehave (The Behavior Blueprint Parents Need)

    If you want to shape your child’s behavior instead of constantly reacting to it, you have to understand why it is happening. In this first episode of The Behavior Blueprint, board-certified behavior analyst and parent coach Mandy Grass introduces the framework that drives real behavior change by helping parents understand the function behind behavior. You will learn the four functions of behavior and how recognizing what a behavior is doing for a child helps you respond more intentionally, with fewer power struggles, less frustration, and a lot less guesswork. You will also get to know…