Guide
Guide

Talking With Families About Challenging Behavior

Virtual Lab School Focused Topics Supporting Children with Challenging Behaviors Lesson 6 Learn Talking With Families About Challenging Behavior
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Review the following tips, from the National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations, about talking with families. Discuss the information with a coach, trainer, or administrator. 

Relationship-Building Practices
  • Begin the discussion by expressing concern about the child or youth.
Relationship-Hindering Practices
  • Begin the discussion by indicating that the child’s or youth’s behavior is not tolerable.
Relationship-Building Practices
  • Let the family know your goal is to help the child or youth.
Relationship-Hindering Practices
  • Indicate that the child or youth must be punished or “dealt with” by the parent.
Relationship-Building Practices
  • Ask the family if they have experienced similar situations and are concerned.
Relationship-Hindering Practices
  • Ask the parent if something has happened at home to cause the behavior.
Relationship-Building Practices
  • Tell the family that you want to work with them to help the child or youth develop appropriate behavior and social skills.
Relationship-Hindering Practices
  • Indicate that the parent should take action to resolve the problem at home.
Relationship-Building Practices
  • Tell the family about what is happening in the classroom or program, but only after the parent understands you are concerned about the child, not blaming the family.
Relationship-Hindering Practices
  • Start the conversation by listing the child’s concerning behaviors. Blame the child and family for the behaviors.
Relationship-Building Practices
  • Offer to work with the family to develop a plan that can be used at home and in the program.
Relationship-Hindering Practices
  • Leave it up to the family to manage problems at home or develop a plan without inviting family participation.
Relationship-Building Practices
  • Emphasize that your focus will be to help the child or youth develop skills needed to be successful in the program and to build healthy relationships.
Relationship-Hindering Practices
  • Let the parent believe the child needs more discipline rather than needing instruction and support.
Relationship-Building Practices
  • Stress that if you can work together, you are more likely to be successful in helping the child or youth.
Relationship-Hindering Practices
  • Minimize the importance of helping the family understand and implement behavior supports.

Source:  https://challengingbehavior.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/talking-w-families-dos-donts.pdf