Positive Guidance for HardtoHandle Kids

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Positive Guidance for Hard-to-Handle Kids

• Parenting Education for Foster Parents

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Foster parents face numerous and complex
challenges. Discipline may be one of the most
difficult tasks in striving to positively guide a
foster child. Foster children come from varied
and uncertain pasts and they bring with them a
unique set of challenges. This lesson will
discuss some of the behaviors of hard-to-handle
kids and explore some of the prevention and
intervention strategies parents can use to guide
their foster child's behavior.
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Objectives of this Session
Participants will . . .

• Identify hard-to-handle behaviors and temperament
  traits.
• Learn positive discipline techniques for
  hard-to-handle behaviors.
• Gain confidence in their role as a foster parent.

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Introduction Opening Discussion

• For abused and neglected children, the nature of
  their experiences adversely influences the
  development of their brains.

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Whats Normal? Whats Hard-to-Handle?
Moderately Hard-to-Handle
Strongly Hard-to-Handle
Normal Kids
Adapted from  "How To Handle A Hard-To-Handle
Kid"  by C. Drew Edwards
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What's Your Child's Temperament?

• Low Activity
• Your child is laid back and calm 

• High Activity
• Your child is action-oriented and on the go, even
  while sleeping

  1

  5
High Stimulation Threshold Your child can
withstand large amounts of pain, adverse weather,
and difficult situations.
Low Stimulation Threshold Your child notices
even small amounts  of pain, sound, or light, and
doesn't like crowds.
  1

  5
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What's Your Child's Temperament?

• Low Intensity
• Your child's emotions are usually quite even. 
  Your child usually displays feelings in a low-key
  manner

• High Intensity
• Your child's emotions are strongly expressed and
  tend to be exaggerated.

  1

  5
Negative Outlook Your child tends to complain, 
become upset, and see the negative side of life
Positive Outlook Your child tends to be
upbeat,  happy, content, and positive.
  1

  5
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What's Your Child's Temperament?

• Regular
• Your child tends to prefer a  consistent daily
  schedule.

• Irregular
• Your child tends to prefer a more varied
  schedule.

  1

  5
Distractible Your child's attention can easily
be diverted to another activity 
Persistent Your child has a long attention span
that is not easy to break.
  1

  5
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What's Your Child's Temperament?

• Adaptable
• Your child is outgoing, sociable, and eager to
  try new things.

• Slow to Embrace Change
• Your child is cautious about new situations and
  changes in routines .

  1

  5
Extroverted Your child thrives on social
contact. He or she is outgoing and enjoys group 
activities more than playing alone.
Introverted Your child is less outgoing and
enjoys playing alone.
  1

  5
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Strategies For Hard-To-Handle Behaviors

• Stating Expectations
• Time Out
• Positive Social Feedback and Positive Concrete
  Feedback
• Planned Ignoring
• Positive Practice
• Worse-Choice Approach
• Natural and Logical Consequences

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Guidelines for Removing Objects or Privileges

• Revoke a privilege
• Don't take away an earned privilege
• Remove a different privilege for a different
  infraction.

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Feedback Guidelines for Different Ages
Feedback Strategy
Most Effective Age
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Point System

• Select the behaviors you want to address.
• Assign values to the behaviors.
• Determine what rewards your child can earn.
• Start using the system!

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Summary