Week 3 – Encouraging Good Behavior
NOTE: There are 2 DVD’s this week – one for parents/caregivers, one for families
Parents/Caregivers
This week starts with review questions, asking parent/caregivers what they noticed about how their youth followed rules this week, and if anyone used “I” statements. How did their youth respond? Start DVD, process question about the quality of compliments. Divide group into pairs (without spouses together) ask for examples of being taken for granted. Give group time to process the question in pairs and in the group. Resume DVD. Ask parents to name things they enjoy & for which they receive reinforcement. Ask parents to list negative behaviors in their youth they want to improve, list on flipchart. With group, re-state behavior in positive way. Hand out scrap paper and have parent/caregivers write one positive behavior they would like to have their youth do. Resume DVD.
Divide group into pairs, hand out 4×6 card and discuss what their youth currently do that they could compliment. Assist parents to write a compliment for their youth on the card. Write suggestions on flipchart. Tell parents to hide the youth’s compliment card at home where they will find it.
Resume DVD. Distribute Earning Points for Rewards cards. Tell parent/caregivers to copy positive behavior from compliment card onto point chart. Resume DVD. Brainstorm appropriate rewards and privileges. Resume DVD. Brainstorm list of ways to build a positive relationship with youth, list on flipchart.
Home Practice is using Earning Points for Rewards cards and hiding compliment cards for youth.Distribute Ways to Show Love cards.
Tell parents that in the family session they will watch a video with their youth about deciding family rules. After the video they will have the opportunity to practice with their youth. Say the Parent Creed.
Youth
Post the ground rules. Lead youth through “Follow the Leader” activity. Do round of compliments. Ask youth to share a time when they noticed their parent/caregiver was upset, what might be causing their stress, what the parent did and how the youth responded.
Play Wheel of Fortune STRESS, then tell youth they will be talking about situations that might cause stress for youth. Divide into small groups of 2-3 youth, give youth sticky notes. Have youth write situations that cause stress on sticky notes. Post George (teen figure). Ask each group to place notes outside of George and read them to the group. Tell group there are at least four ways to tell if you’re under stress: physical, feelings, behavior and relationships. Write four ways on flipchart. Resume small groups, assign one of the four signs of stress to each group. Circulate to offer help. Groups can place their ideas inside of George, in picture form if there is time. Each small group reports out loud to the rest of the group.
Play “What Do We Have in Common?” game.
Ask group to name ways that George could handle stress that might cause problems for him. Record on flip chart. Introduce positive ways of coping with stress, in the moment and in general. Come up with an action that represents coping strategies, read the stress-causing situations and have youth act out appropriate coping. Hand out Coping Techniques sheet for youth to complete.
Home Practice is to notice 2 times when they become upset this week, note how they felt and handled it. Tell youth that they will be watching a family DVD. Ask them to sit with their parents. They will practice having a family meeting tonight. Say the Youth Creed.
Family
Play the balloon game. Tell families that this class is an opportunity for families to learn how to conduct family meetings to make plans, resolve problems and have fun, and that youth can be involved because they are getting older. Play DVD. Distribute Family Meeting Rules, have families practice with a round of compliments and have youth read the rules. Have families discuss the point card and possible rewards that might be received. Resume DVD. Ask families “What made the meeting go smoothly?” Discuss future benefits of family meetings for small problems. Resume DVD. Ask for examples of issues that are too “heavy” for family meetings. Distribute family Card Games directions. Play family card game.
Say closing circle phrase. Parents: “One privilege my son/daughter wants to earn is…” and Youth: ”One privilege I want to earn is…” Say Youth, Parent and Family Creeds.