Axelrod/Haugen
School Psychologist as Parent Consultant:
Solutions to Child Behavior Problems
Michael I. AxelrodUniversity of Wisconsin – Eau Claire
Kimberly A. HaugenBoys Town
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Slides can be found at:http://www.uwec.edu/HDC/resources.htm
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Assumption #1: No Child is an Island
Problems rarely occur in a vacuum
Child’s problem = family’s problem
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Assumption #2: A Child’s Problem can be
Solved by ParentsMore productive to conceptualize problems from
a behavioral perspective; parents need to accept that their child can be responsible for their behavior
Parents hold the keys to the kingdomThe 4 Fs:
Free Time, Friends, Funds, & Fun
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Assumption #3: Rules and Consequences are Crucial to
Parental SuccessLearning is a function of
doing followed by feedback
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Assumption #4: Parents need to display both a
“hard” side and “soft” sideRaising children is like tending to a garden
They need to be “weeded” and “pruned”
They also need “water” and “sun” and “fertilizer”
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Children are Like Sunflowers
Negative experiences Child grows toward the negativeNegativity breeds negative
behaviorPositive experiences Child
grows toward the positivePositivity breeds positive
behavior
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Consequences of Negativity in the Parent-
Child RelationshipLimited physical signs of affectionConversations filled with criticismLittle to no unconditional positive
regardFew acknowledgmentsLimited quality time
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Parent Consultation PointsEducate, normalizeEmphasize the “soft side” of parentingTeach parents to talk about the misbehavior not
the childEncourage acceptance of feelingsIncrease unconditional positive regardIncrease acknowledgment
Maintain at least 4:1 ratio
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Issuing CommandsGet child’s attentionState command in
positive form, few words
Wait (identify duration)
RespondPraiseInitiate discipline
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Time Out Principles“Time out” from reinforcementExperience of nothingnessImmediate & consistentRestrict access & value increasesStart what you finish
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What is Time Out?Opportunity for
children to learn appropriate behavior
Listening to authority figures
Self-regulationBoundariesAutonomy
Alternative to coercive discipline
YellingSpankingIndefinite
grounding
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Developmental Applications
Toddler: Time out
School Age/Teens: Job card
groundingGrounding
Adults:Silent treatment
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TimeOut
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Time OutAge Range: Toddler – 7/8 years oldUses: Routine rule violationsProcess:
Explain procedureIdentify rule violation Ignore all behaviorLook for signs of compliance
Quiet for 15 secondsCompliance check
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Job Card GroundingAge Range: 7/8 - AdolescenceUses: Routine rule violationsProcess:
Explain procedureIdentify job & completion criteriaIdentify rule violation & assign a jobAdd additional job(s) if behavior persists – 3
maxChild checks back & caregiver checksGrounding duration until job(s) complete
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Example:Job Card Grounding
Clean BathroomMirror clean &
streak-freeVanity & sink cleanToilet clean inside and outToilet paper roll mountedFloor cleanTrash can emptyHand towel neatly hung
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GroundingAge Range: 7/8 -
AdolescenceUses: Severe,
dangerous, infrequent behavior
Process:Explain procedureIdentify durationIdentify restrictionIdentify locationConsider reducing
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Formal ProgramsMcMahon & Forehand
Helping the Noncompliant ChildBarkley
Defiant ChildrenEyberg
Parent Child Interaction TherapyWebster-Stratton
The Incredible Years
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Final ThoughtsBehavior occurs within the context of the
environment We learn by doing and receiving
feedbackParents can be behavior change agentsWeeding & fertilizing, in combination,
produces the best outcomes
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