Moreover, there’s no evidence that “tough love” works, Kazdin tells the Health blog.

That said, parents shouldn’t be doing things for their children to the point that they impede children’s daily functioning, such as leaving kids feeling like they can’t go to school without the parent there.”

Click here to read the rest of the article, originally posted on The Wall Street Journal Health Blog and written by Shirley S. Wang.

March 30, 2012, 9 AM – 5 PM EST
The Study at Yale
1157 Chapel Street
New Haven, CT 06511
$499 per participant
Click here to register!

The objective of this training is to provide intense, focused instruction in Parent Management Training. PMT is an evidence-based program that has a 78% success rate in significantly improving behavior problems in children diagnosed with Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Conduct Disorder. As a result of attending, participants will be able to:

• set up positive reinforcement programs to strengthen pro-social behaviors
• teach parents to use mild, effective punishment techniques to decrease mild to severe aggression
• help parents increase overall child compliance
• set up and maintain effective positive reinforcement programs
• help parents reduce their child’s whining, complaining and other annoying behaviors through shaping
• improve parent-child interactions

The course is intended for professionals interested in implementing Parent Management Training (PMT) in clinical practice. Under the direction of Alan E. Kazdin, Ph.D., ABPP, the course will be presented by certified specialists in PMT from the Yale Parenting Center. Upon completion of the course, participants will receive 7 continuing education credits. The course is approved by the American Psychological Association and the National Association of Social Workers.

Continental breakfast and a complimentary copy of “Parent Management Training” included. The course will begin with an introduction by Dr. Alan Kazdin, followed by a book signing opportunity. Accommodations at the Study are available at the discounted price of $189/night. Click here to register!

This gentle positive approach works wonders. I have seen such an improvement in my son. I thank God everyday for Dr. Kazdin and his education and talent. I hope that parents of every child have an opportunity to work with this clinic. The rewards are effective, great and AWESOME !! I plan to continue to seek their assistance and knowledge as my child grows!! Thank you for making a huge difference in my child’s little life.”

– Susan*

*name has been changed.

Instead, a set of techniques known as “parent management training” is proving so helpful to families struggling with a child’s unmanageable behavior that clinicians in the U.S. and the U.K. are starting to adopt them.”

***

“Simply rewarding good behavior isn’t particularly effective, says Alan Kazdin, a Yale psychology professor and head of the Yale Parenting Center. “Every parent on the planet has tried charts and point programs,” he says. Explaining to a child why you want them to do something, or punishing them with long time-outs, isn’t effective either, he says.”

Click here to read the rest of this article, originally printed in The Wall Street Journal.
Written by Shirley S. Wang (shirley.wang@wsj.com)

– Scott & Carolin Gardner, Lake Elsinore, CA

– Lucy Johnson, Dallas, TX*
*name and location have been changed

Popular culture often regards bullying as a fact of life — a normal part of childhood that one must endure and learn to handle. Children sing the old adage about sticks and stones, but words used with intent to harm have been proven to cause serious damage, mentally and physically. As more high-profile teen suicides continue to emerge in the news, it is becoming clear that bullying is a serious problem. Over 60% of elementary and secondary school students rate bullying as the biggest problem in their lives.  About 40-80% of students experience it at some point in their school life. 

What can parents do?

About 30% of bullying victims tend to remain silent, so it can be difficult for a parent to know if, when, where and how to intervene. Here are some tips for parents on dealing with this sensitive subject.

1. Look for any signs of bullying. Anxiety about school, any mention of teasing, lack of desire to talk about school, moodiness and withdrawal, sleep problems, and unexplained cuts or bruises all count.

2. Find out what’s going on. Make a habit of casually asking about school and expressing interest. Keep it low-key – children are less likely to respond if they feel they are being interrogated. Ask open-ended questions to foster elaboration and dialogue instead of questions that can be answered with a yes or no.

She’s never hit her again.”

***

“Unless you decide to teach that positive behavior — good manners at the grocery store or handling delicate things with care — your child will always return to the negative behavior, says Dr. Alan Kazdin, professor psychology and child psychiatry at Yale University, director of the Yale Parenting Center and author of “The Kazdin Method for Parenting the Defiant Child.”"

Click here to read the rest of this article on CNN.com
By Katia Hetter

It’s that time of year again! Summer is over and school is back in session. This is an exciting time, but so many changes can also bring new stressors for your child.

The idea of child stress sounds like a contradiction. Children do not have to think of the economy, pay the credit card bills or keep the gas tank full. Adults often dream of the chance to be a kid again, where things are “simpler.” However, children do experience stress.

Here are some facts on child stress and tips for what you can do as a parent to alleviate it.

1. Child stress is real. While getting rebuffed by a peer at recess may seem trivial in the grand scheme of life’s catastrophes, the child’s experience of this event is real and can be taxing. Talk to your child and acknowledge their stressors. Ensure your child has some downtime around the house when there are no chores, lessons or demands.

2. Their stress doesn’t affect you, but your stress affects them. Normal daily stressors for your child are not likely to weigh on you. However, children pick up on the stressors of their parents. If you are worried about money, marital problems, or your job, it is  very likely that your child will sense it, even if they cannot verbalize it.

3. Stress is not purely psychological. Stress that continues for an extended period of time directly affects one’s immune system, making children and adults more likely to get ill. For example, individuals enduring high stress are much more likely to contract serious diseases later in life such as cancer, heart disease, or chronic respiratory disease.

What can you do?

Routines that bring stability to home life can reduce stress. Go to the store together, play a game, or eat a meal together. These activities are not necessarily about fun (although fun is great), and they’re not about spending money. Family activities, assuming they are not riddled with conflict, are all beneficial. They are an investment in physical health and are “psychological nutrients” for a sound immune system.

For more information: http://www.slate.com/id/2262309/