Child-Parent Relationship Therapy: Rules of Thumb

Sometimes the simplest shifts make the biggest difference. This handout shares the core “rules of thumb” from Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT), offering parents, caregivers, and professionals practical guiding principles to strengthen relationships with children.

What’s Included

• The “Big Six” CPRT principles (like focus on the donut, not the hole and be a thermostat, not a thermometer)

• Examples of how these rules foster trust, safety, and connection

• Guidelines for responding instead of reacting in challenging moments

• Relational reminders to balance empathy, limits, and encouragement

• Quick tips that make everyday parenting feel more manageable

Ways This Helps Connection

• Encourages more harmony and fewer meltdowns by focusing on needs beneath behaviors

• Builds a child’s self-esteem through validation, encouragement, and presence

• Supports caregivers in setting limits with warmth and consistency

• Creates new opportunities for connection in everyday interactions

Why You’ll Love It
These rules of thumb offer bite-sized wisdom you can carry into daily life. They remind us that parenting doesn’t have to be perfect—it’s about presence, repair, and the little ways we show children they matter most.

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