Therapy Session 5

Session 4 was pretty much a review of things I've already posted so I didn't write about it. This session was really good. It focused of setting limits for the child and learning how to rienforce consequences. The rule of thumb for this session is: If you can't say it in 10 words of less, don't say it. Kids start to think of us as the adults on Charlie Brown after a while and totally tune us out. A good way to remember limit setting is A-C-T, Ackowledge the feeling or desire, Communicate the limit, Target alternatives. Examples:
A- I know your mad at me..
C-But people aren't for hitting
T-Go hit the pillow if you need to

A-You think throwing food is really fun
C-but food is not for throwing
T-After lunch we can go throw a ball outside

A-You like to color on the walls
C-but the walls are not for coloring on
T- Lets color in your new coloring book instead

Its all about validateing thier feelings and showing them that you see how they feel and then giving alternative options. The next step in this process is obviously enforcing a consequence if they choose to continue the behaivior. It's important to use the word Choose a lot in this. Example:
If you choose to keep coloring on the walls you choose to sit in your room for 10 minutes
If you chose to keep throwing food, you choose to get your special movie time taken away.
If you choose to hit me, I choose to hit you back. JK

They need to know that they are still in control of the situaltion (when you are really controlling the situation)In my house we have a "Thumbs up chioces" chart and Rylie gets to put a sticker on when she makes good choices. It teaches her that she is still choosing what she does, and when she chooses good things she gets rewarded.

After they have chosen to stop the behaivior, they get praise.

This is used in the special play time a lot because the child is suppose to feel like they are in control if the play time but there are still limits. They can choose to get their anger out on the bop bag but not on you. They can choose to paint on the paper, but not on the floor. If they don't listen to the limit, they get the item taken away. It's important to remember the rule of thumb and not use more that 10 word while limit setting. Make it short and sweet and to the point. And remember: CONSISTENT LIMITS----->PREDICTABLE, SAFE ENVIRONMENT---->SENSE OF SECURITY.