FLIP IT: Transforming Challenging Behavior has won a 2012 National Parenting Publications (NAPPA) Award, hand-picked by their prestigious team of expert judges and parent testers!

 “Responding effectively to challenging behavior is a process, not an event. The FLIP IT strategy is a simple and easy-to-use intervention. Learning to use FLIP IT enables teachers to be in control of themselves and to respond in a manner that helps children to understand their feelings, respect themselves and others, and develop important problem-solving skills.”

— Barbara Kaiser, co-author of Challenging Behavior in Young Children: Understanding, Preventing, and Responding Effectively

“FLIP IT is a program that empowers adults to transform children’s challenging behaviors into opportunities for them to learn what they can do, how to problem-solve, to express feelings in a healthy way, and to gain self-control. Whether you are teaching yourself, providing adult education, or mentoring, you will love the well-developed and attractive training materials that present sequenced active learning strategies. Author Rachel Sperry’s understanding of children comes shining through.”

— Dr. Donna Wittmer, author of The Young Child: Development from Prebirth Through Age Eight, Endless Opportunities for Infant and Toddler Curriculum: A Relationship-Based Approach, and Infant and Toddler Development and Responsive Program Planning: A Relationship-Based Approach

“FLIP IT contributes to the already substantive DECA resource material by providing an emotionally supportive intervention model that can be readily understood and implemented by staff and parents without years of clinical training. This guide is a valuable addition to the DECA collection. I highly recommend it for Head Start programs and child care centers throughout the country.”

— Lesley Koplow, LCSW, Director, The Center for Emotionally Responsive Practice at Bank Street and author of Unsmiling Faces: How Preschools Can Heal and Creating Schools That Heal: Real-Life Solutions

“I love, love, love the easy-to-read format.”

— Preschool teacher (Pennsylvania training participant)

“After a month of FLIP IT, my son told me that I don’t yell anymore.”

— Stressed mother of a four-year-old boy (Massachusetts)

 “I visit a daycare with a certain child that falls apart when things don't go her way. And let me tell you, "it ain't pretty" when it happens either! Once she had a two hour screaming fit because she wanted a certain teacher to hand her a paper towel. (That teacher was busy and she could reach the paper towels herself and others were offering to help and you get the picture). So, mostly everybody just walks around her like eggshells.

Yesterday she threw a fit because another child wore the paint shirt she wanted. (He even took it off for her and she threw it across the room so then another child put it on who wasn't giving it up...once again, I'm sure you get the picture!). I decided "I'm flippin' this girl"! I went to the couch and held her and said "I know you're really sad and upset because you want to wear the bunny shirt (insert scream here) but so and so is wearing it right now (insert extra loud scream here) what else could we do to make you feel better? (Insert a little calmer scream but add wiping snotty nose on me) and then we began listing some ideas. We came up with wearing it at nap time! She was completely happy with that idea and the crisis was settled in about 10 minutes!

I'm convinced that if I had just said "You can't have the shirt now but you can wear it at nap time" she would have continued screaming her "mad as a wet hen" act! Only going through the steps together did she feel validated and given the power to fix the problem herself....well, she thought she fixed the problem herself. What a perfect solution for those children that want complete control! And what's even better is that the whole ordeal actually helped build our relationship. Rather than me being the bully teacher making her stay in a timeout crying I was her coach, her supporter, and most of all, her understanding teacher that she knows cares and loves her!

Thanks again Rachel! I'm off to another daycare to flip some more kids!”

— Amy Anderson, Professional Development Associate, Project REACH, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO

“I attended your training in San Antonio 1 year ago this month! I loved it! We (my partner and I) presented to a group of 65 here at Region 10 last Wednesday--95% of the respondents to our survey, thus far, said they would recommend this training to others!!! All sorts of positive feedback! Just wanted to thank you for making this training so thorough (great stories, easy to understand concepts, practice scenarios and the Practice Picture Flip Book)....a program that is really easy to be enthused about and present to teachers and others. We will be presenting to more teachers (at their sites) soon. Thanks for all your GREAT work! We are continuing to FLIP-IT here in Texas!”

— Sharon A. Carr, LMSW, Mental Health Consultant, Early Head Start/Head Start, Region 10 Education Service Center, Richardson, TX

“A fellow co-worker and I will be presenting Flip-it on January 18. We feel very confident with our training, the booklet and DVD that we can certainly train our staff! I can let you know the outcome of our training. Thank you for the FLIP IT strategy! I love the simplicity of the strategy and bringing "feelings" to focus in the work with children.”

— Roberta Wolschon, MA, LLPC, Mental Health/Education Specialist, MCCSA Head Start, Clinton Township, MI

“WOW…I am still FLIP IT crazy…Angela and I trained all of the staff when we got back. It took two separate months. Next year I have talked to other content areas (Foster Grandparents and transportation) they want the training for their people too. THANKS to you all for the opportunity to become a train the trainer for FLIP IT. We continue to brag on it every chance we get. It is so important to us…and the children we serve.”

— Sunni Zimmer, Mental Health and Disabilities Coordinator, CAPE-Head Start/Early, Evansville, IN

“The FLIP IT Train-the-Trainer was one of the best trainings I have attended. I really enjoy trainings that are practical and can be put to everyday use. I have been flipping everyday!! Thank you for the information!”

— Wendy Greenlief, Early Learning Mentor Coach, Community Action Southwest, Washington, PA

"My training went VERY WELL. I love the material - loved presenting it. I even took "ICK" for my group. My audience loved it as well - many great comments. I just had a feeling that FLIP IT would be something that would appeal to people who work in the trenches and sure enough. Thank you for putting together this material and for your help with my presentation. I am going to try and get FLIP IT out there more."

— Jan Frost, Professional Development Associate, Project REACH, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO

"I have been using it with my 4 and 8 year old with a lot of success - even this morning when my 4 year old was upset since she could not find her blankie. It was so cool to see her think through the process and find the solution on her own - and then even later tell me "Daddy - are you happy that I am using my manners and not having a fit over my blankie!!" THANK YOU FOR MAKING MY LIFE A LITTLE EASIER!!"

— Ken Baker, Father of a 4 year old.

"FLIP IT is a great tool to share with teachers. It provides a step by step process for acknowledging children's feelings while setting clear limits and teaching problem solving skills."

— Aviva Shira Starr, EChO Program Manager, Durham Exchange Clubs' Family Center, Durham, NC

"I love FLIP IT! It combines everything (and more) of what I have been trying to teach our teachers in a simple and usable way! Thanks so much for this great tool!"

— Kim Baumgart, Pocatello Chubbuck School District #25 Head Start, Pocatello, ID