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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