The CPS Podcast

Lot's of discussion on our April Parents Panel, including the fact that there's a lot of work still to be done to change societal lenses and practices with behaviorally challenging kids...and the fact that we're talking about that is a good thing!

What should the consequence be if a child exhibits challenging behavior after an adult uses Plan A to solve a problem? That's not the only question answered on today's program...

Lots of ground covered on today's program, including a plea from a parent whose child is in a school and school system in which punishment and expulsion are still being used to handle oppositional and explosive behavior.  The principal, vice principal, and head of student services in that school system will be receiving Care Packages from Lives in the Balance ASAP.

Lots of territory covered on today's program, most of it related to things that can go awry when parents are trying to solve problems collaboratively. Here's the good news: with some minor adjustments in strategy, things can start going a whole lot better.

Parenting is really hard, but it's especially hard if you're the parent of a child with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges.  There's so much advice being thrown your way, a lot of it telling you to be more firm, more consistent, and more diligent with the rewards and punishments. If all those sticker charts, time-outs, screaming matches, arguments have you feeling like a lot of parents do -- isolated, frustrated, and desperate -- well, you've found a program that can help. On this program, Dr. Ross Greene -- author of The Explosive Child and originator of the Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) approach -- helps parents understand challenging behavior and overcome many of the hurdles involved in implementing his model. It's very hard work...and this is a great opportunity to call in, ask questions, get the support you need, and or just listen to other parents or relatives who are dealing with similar real-life issues. The program airs every Monday at 11 am Eastern time from September through May. Sponsored by Dr. Greene's non-profit, Lives in the Balance (www.livesinthebalance.org).

A lot of territory was covered on this program, as several parents called in with questions and Dr. Greene responded to questions sent by email as well.  But the key theme was established by the first caller:  if solving problems collaboratively is working for your child, there's no reason to stop doing it.

Parents often say that the unsolved problems setting in motion challenging episodes in their kids are unpredictable. But that's not exactly so.  Because Plan B is most effective when it's used proactively, it's crucial to transform the seemingly unpredictable into the predictable.

On today's Parents Panel, one of our Panel members told us about her recent visit with her behaviorally challenging son, who is now a young adult. He's doing really well...perhaps evidence that Plan B (and a lot of patience) can do a kid and his parents a lot of good, and certainly evidence of the fact that development has its own time-line that often can't be rushed.

On today's program, Dr. Greene spent some time talking with the dad of a child whose aggressive, violent behavior has been reduced dramatically by various medications.  The take-home message: take advantage of the lull so as to get good at Plan B...because, if the goal is for the child to be medication-free someday, something is going to have to replace the meds.

Parenting is really hard, but it's especially hard if you're the parent of a child with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges.  There's so much advice being thrown your way, a lot of it telling you to be more firm, more consistent, and more diligent with the rewards and punishments. If all those sticker charts, time-outs, screaming matches, arguments have you feeling like a lot of parents do -- isolated, frustrated, and desperate -- well, you've found a program that can help. On this program, Dr. Ross Greene -- author of The Explosive Child and originator of the Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) approach -- helps parents understand challenging behavior and overcome many of the hurdles involved in implementing his model. It's very hard work...and this is a great opportunity to call in, ask questions, get the support you need, and or just listen to other parents or relatives who are dealing with similar real-life issues. The program airs every Monday at 11 am Eastern time from September through May. Sponsored by Dr. Greene's non-profit, Lives in the Balance (www.livesinthebalance.org).