Parent Training for Parents of Typically Developing Kids Too?
It has been a few months since our last BLOG, but we are back! We have been working hard on the ATS website, added content, and Facebook presence. I wanted to share a recent event that was very meaningful for us.
We recently did a parent training for parents of typically developing preschoolers (at my daughter’s preschool). We titled the training, the ABCs of Behavioral Parenting. We had about 25 parents and teachers attend this event. We started the training by talking about ABA, what it is, and how it is useful not only for teaching children with ASD, but as a way of life. Many parents had their own stories to share, one about not being able to get a full night’s sleep because her 4-year-old daughter would wake up at least 5 times per night. Another shared about her twins and their non compliance. Other’s shared frustrations about being at the park and not being able to get their child to share, listen or the like.
Their issues were not polarized much from some of the issues we deal with in the world of ASD. What was really most memorable was watching the faces of the parents in the audience as we taught them the 4 “functions” of behavior, and how to analyse “why” their child was doing the behavior first, and then to come back next time to learn how to plan to address it. These parents and teachers were empowered with the knowledge that behavior analysts have, and voiced their thanks to us over and over.
The environment has the answers. We just have to analyse the environment to find out why the child is using that specific behavior to get his or her needs met. Usually functional communication training, or mand training will solve many of these parents issues. It was a pleasure to do this training pro bono for the school, and we look forward to doing more work with them in the future!
Let us know what your training needs are? Are you a parent? Professional? Share your “roadblocks” or “speedbumps” in the training process of your staff or team! WE love hearing from you!
