Coaching Behaviour Change: Necessary and Sufficient Conditions
(By Austin Brown Sparks, Registered Provisional Psychologist)
Sorting through recommendations on parenting and teaching can be overwhelming. Amazon alone has over 10,000 books on parenting, ADHD, Learning Disabilities, social skills, and oppositional defiance. There are also hundreds of workshops available every year to parents and teachers. Even when we find a resource that makes sense to us, it doesn’t the always work in practice. So then how do we help children learn new skills and change behaviour?
Actually, most of these resources have great information on what kids need to do differently. In fact, there are hundreds or even thousands of strategies that can teach any skill. You need this knowledge. The knowledge in these resources is Necessary, but not Sufficient to help kids change.
So the question is not what strategy to use, but how to use it.
Think of it like the strategy for the strategy.
You need three ingredients to have success with any of these strategies.
- Strong working relationship
- Relevant expectations
- A shared plan of action
These are the ingredients that make necessary knowledge sufficient to help kids change.
The first ingredient, a strong working relationship, makes up the foundation for everything else. What is a working relationship? The working relationship is strong when two people (or more) can see the problem the same way, so they can get work done (make change). The working relationship starts with perspective taking, meaning that the work doesn’t get done until the adult proves that they can see things the way that child does (their perspective).
Here is one simple and practical strategy explained by child psychiatrist Daniel Siegel, called
Connect and Redirect.
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Don’t forget, any foundation is built over time so it usually takes more than a few “connects” before the “redirect” is successful. So the next time you want to teach a child new skill and change behaviour, remember to Connect (perspective take), and then redirect (work).
If you'd like to learn more about this topic, come to our Parent Workshop on November 21st to hear Austin Brown Sparks.
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More often than not, parents try to change behaviour through punishments, rewards, and convincing and cajoling kids to “act better”, “get along”, or demonstrate that they are sorry. Unfortunately, these strategies do not teach skills or don’t fit individual differences. Sometimes we can get away with using these strategies when supporting “average” kids. However, this is not the case for children with Executive Functioning challenges like Learning Disabilities and ADHD.
Learn why common strategies used to change a child’s behaviour often do not work, and why they work even less with children who have executive functioning challenges. Learn the difference between what is necessary to support behaviour change, and what is sufficient. Learn how the same principles for successful academic teaching can be applied to social skills, emotion regulation, and problem-solving skills. This presentation builds on a basic understanding of Executive Functioning and Learning Disabilities.
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Winter Programs Open for Registration
This winter we have seven exciting Amicus Recreation programs to choose from. We’ve received lots of requests from parents for a program targeted at children with Develpmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). You’ve asked and we’ve listened. This pilot program, which is being designed in consultation with Calgary’s DCD expert Dr. Paulene Kamps, will help participants learn to break down fundamental movement skills into parts so they can learn to master these and gain confidence to participate in more physical activities.
Also this winter, the ever popular MultiSport program is back and offers a variety of active activities sure to burn lots of energy after a day of school. For technology fans, we are offering 3D Printing and Mechanical Engineering. Our Chef Amicus cooking program provides an opportunity for participants to try new foods and learn how to make them. Creative Wonders is all about pottery this winter. For the teens, we offer POLARIS which offers them an opportunity to be involved in planning the activities that they will do as a larger group. As always, in addition to the program content, a significant aspect of the Amicus Recreation programs is the teaching and reinforcement of positive social skills by our trained and caring staff.
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Four Winter Programs to Choose From
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Children and Teen Groups
This winter we're offering three small group programs for children and teens through our Psychological Services area. Let's Be Social and Acting Social focus on the development of social skills. Girls Only!
aims to engage girls in topics and issues pertaining to their social, emotional, behavioural, and biological development. A particular focus of the program is to educate and enrich participants’ understanding of their diagnosis(es), while also helping them to gain greater awareness of their strengths. Click the links below to learn more about each program.
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Moving Forward
is a 10-week group program for young adults (ages 18 – 25 with an LD and/or ADHD diagnosis) aimed at helping to ease the adjustment to the adult world. Whether they are continuing their education, working, or somewhere in between, this group (facilitated by a Registered Psychologist) will provide them with knowledge, skills, and support to help make the transition into the adult world smoother. Additionally, it is the aim of the group to help young adults create connections with peers who are in a similar stage of life. Each week, participants will participate in fun recreational programm
ing (sports, cooking, music, etc.).
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Additional Ongoing Programs & Services
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Inside Learning Disabilities: For Professionals
Starts January 15th!
Get ready for the launch of our updated online course for Educators and other professionals which will begin January 18th.
Inside Learning Disabilities for Professionals
will take you inside the world of Learning Disabilities (LDs) at school: from facts and diagnosis to co-occurring conditions and LD strategies for the student and the classroom. It has been designed for professionals to increase your understanding and familiarity of LDs, the impact LDs can have on academics, behaviour, and well-being; and the evidence-based strategies and tools to increase student success and your success as a professional. The content of the course will include:
- Introduction to Learning Disabilities
- Examination of Specific Learning Disabilities
- The relationship between Learning Disabilities and executive functioning
- The impact that Learning Disabilities can have on social/emotional functioning
- Strategies for instruction and assessment
- The disorders that frequently co-occur with Learning Disabilities (i.e., Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, depression, anxiety, etc.)
- Planning for Learning Disabilities at school
- Setting students up for success (e.g., transitions, planning, etc.)
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Foothills Academy Professional Development Workshops
Did you know that Foothills Academy Society offers professional development workshops that can be booked for your school, conference or another occasion?
Our Professional Development Workshops and Training focus on strategies and programs that have been proven successful within our school. Although our focus is assisting individuals with Learning Disabilities, the ultimate goal is to assist and support staff in meeting the diverse needs of all learners.
For more information, check out all the workshops that are available.
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COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND LINKS
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Workshops & Educational Opportunities
CADDAC online ADHD webinars
Past webinars are archived and available on demand. Topics include
Emotional Regulation and the use of the ABC Chart, ADHD in the home, Parenting and Behavioural Strategies
and more. Webinars are $10 each or free with a CADDAC membership.
Information Resource Links
Support Groups
- ADDults Calgary Support Group: A Support group for adults in Calgary with ADHD and/or their spouses. Meets the last Wednesday of the month (excl. July & August
- Cochrane Parent Support Group - FOCUS for Attention
- ADHD Links Calgary - Jamie Gelfand (ggelfand@shaw.ca or 403-253-2988) or Katie McCumm (kmccunn@shaw.ca or 403-278-5182)
- FOCUS for Attention: Sept 12, Oct 3, Nov 7, Dec 5, from 7 - 9 pm Free support group offered through North Central Family Support Program held at the Huntington Hills Community Centre. Registration is required. Call 403.275-6668 ext. 232. For more information, contact Lorraine at lorraine@weconnectyou.ca.
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Workshops & Educational Opportunities
CADDAC online ADHD webinars
Past webinars are archived and available on demand. Topics include
Emotional Regulation and the use of the ABC Chart, ADHD in the home, Parenting and Behavioural Strategies
and more. Webinars are $10 each or free with a CADDAC membership.
Information Resource Links
Support Groups
- ADDults Calgary Support Group: A Support group for adults in Calgary with ADHD and/or their spouses. Meets the last Wednesday of the month (excl. July & August
- Cochrane Parent Support Group - FOCUS for Attention
- ADHD Links Calgary - Jamie Gelfand (ggelfand@shaw.ca or 403-253-2988) or Katie McCumm (kmccunn@shaw.ca or 403-278-5182)
- FOCUS for Attention: Sept 12, Oct 3, Nov 7, Dec 5, from 7 - 9 pm Free support group offered through North Central Family Support Program held at the Huntington Hills Community Centre. Registration is required. Call 403.275-6668 ext. 232. For more information, contact Lorraine at lorraine@weconnectyou.ca.
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Community Services| Foothills Academy Society| 403.270.9400 | info@foothillsacademy.org | www.foothillsacademy.org
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