About Center for progress in Children's Mental Health

At the Center for progress for children’s mental health (Utvecklingscentrum för barns psykiska hälsa) our work  involves following research on children's mental health. Our goal is then to help adults apply this knowledge in their everyday lives - in their roles as parents or in their work with children and young people, such as school staff.

We have collected tips and advice on these pages from research on children that may help you as a parent to improve your relationship with your child, even during stressful times or a difficult phase for your family.

Sometimes we or other people in our lives think that when there are frequent conflicts and when children test the limits that you need to be even stricter. On the contrary, research shows that using force and punishments tend to increase problem behaviors and conflicts. What really does make a difference is something called positive parenting. It involves focusing on good communication, proactive guidance, encouragement and being part of your child's life outside the home. This puts you one step ahead in being able to acknowledge positive behavior, as well as detecting problems early so you can guide your child through difficult situations. Sometimes it is also just about taking care of your own feelings. This results in stable leadership and an increased trust in your own capabilities as a parent. This is what benefits children the most in the long run!

We have gathered our most important tips and advice on this page. If you need more support and advice in your role as a parent, or if you are worried about conflicts, defiance or acting out behavior at home or in school, there is more help available for you. Read more on the page More help and support.