Arguing that what children need most from their relationships with the adults in their lives is connection and trust, Time-In provides a process for "getting through -- to children". The approach teaches children how to be competent, to think, and to succeed by using four tools -- Ask, Act, Attend, and Amend -- that can be put together like interchangeable pieces of a puzzle. Parents can use these tools when they want their children to listen and think (the parent asks), change their behaviour in a positive way (the parent acts), pay attention to what they or others need (the parent attends), or right a wrong that they have done (the child amends). This parenting approach is useful for preventing many behavioural problems characteristic of children from ages 1 to 12.