As paren ts we have all encountered a situation with our children in which they are not behaving well. This happens with all children of all ages. If your child exhibits an inappropriate behavior (i.e. throwing a tantrum, yelling, screaming, throwing things, head banging, etc.) on a consistent basis, you may reconsider this idea. At that point you may have asked yourself, "Why is my child behaving like this? How can I help my child? What should I do next?" If you are asking yourself these questions, you should consider reading the parent handbook "Mom, Catch Me a Rainbow: A Positive Approach to Helping Parents Change Their Child's Problem Behavior" by Karolyn King-Perry and and Lynn K. Wilder. This handbook does an excellent job of explaining how parents can help their children either reduce or eliminate problem behaviors as well as explain why children exhibit these behaviors. They share with parents what and how to use Positive Behavior Support (PBS) to do just that.
Why You Should Read This Book
Ms. King-Peery and Ms. Wilder did an excellent job developing this handbook for parents. The format of the handbook explains difficult terminology to parents associated with Positive Behavior Supports in a way that easy for the reader. The handbook does not only provider information to parents, but also is developed in a workbook manner. Parents can think through about their children's behaviors, why they are exhibiting the behavior, what they (the parents) are going to do to change the behavior, how they are going to monitor and chart the behavior, and how they are going to develop a behavior plan so that their children will exhibit the correct behavior. I also enjoyed how both authors made sure to incorporate examples of each step of the PBS and developing an effective behavior plan.
Handbook's Highlights
The handbook, "Mom, Catch Me a Rainbow," does an excellent job providing necessary information to parents regarding how to help them change their child's problem behavior. Listed below are some of the highlights or topics discussed in this handbook:
- Defines what Positive Behavior Support or PBS is
- Explains to parents why children exhibit problem behaviors
- How to identify the problem behavior
- How the child's setting can affect his or her behaviors
- Defines what an antecedent is
- How to identify and utilize appropriate consequences on an individualistic basis
- Defines what an alternative competing behavior is and how to use it to help the child
- Defines what negative consequences are
- How to write a behavior plan
- How to write a behavior plan lesson
- How to record child's progress and utilize that information
I would highly recommend any parent that is in a situation where they are struggling with how to help change their child's problem behavior. It can be frustrating to try every thing that you have been taught or have seen used to change behaviors and have it not work. This handbook allows parents to find out why their child is exhibiting problem behaviors and what to do about it. If you would like to get a copy of this handbook, you will not be able to purchase it at your local discount or book stores. I received my copy by attending a conference on PBS through our area education agency or AEA. You can contact your AEA or your child's school district. It is important to let them know that "Mom, Catch Me a Rainbow: Parent Handbook - A Positive Approach to Helping Parents Change Their Child's Problem Behavior" by Karolyn King-Peery and Lynn K. Wilder is copyrighted 2005. This easy to read handbook could help your child and you "catch a rainbow of hope" together. It's a tough journey to do so, but well worth it.
