Parenting

Parenting with Response-Ability

Parenting Strategies for a Harmonious Family

Created by: Elizabeth L. Currie Shier, B.Sc.

Turn it around in 7 weeks with alternative parenting skills

A Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins with a Single Step…

Many families of children with dyslexia, ADHD or ASD create negative interaction patterns that repeat or have made allowances for negative behaviour in the past because they recognized that their child was unable to learn from conventional parenting programmes and methods. Now, that can change.

This course allows parents to make positive changes to their parenting skills at the same time their child is making positive changes to their behavioural skills in a progressive, step-by-step way.

Common Questions

  • Where should parents begin making changes in their parenting?
  • How much should change at once?
  • How can we break the negative cycles that may be part of the family life of a child with behavioural difficulties?

You have taken a step toward dealing with the issues of parenting your child. But many parents are unsure how to proceed because they don’t know where to begin and what to expect. This program is a framework for making lasting change.

Overview

How this program works. How long it takes. How is it structured. Let the fun begin!

If parenting your child were easy, you wouldn’t have been searching in the first place. As a Mum of dyslexic children who displayed ADHD behaviours, I know first-hand the challenges that come with parenting these children. If you are exhausted by your child, you are not alone.

This time will be different…

This program works because we concentrate on one thing at each step and give you time to learn to use the strategy before adding another one. Because it happens in steps, it is easier for you and your children to adapt.

Crash diet, anyone?

Who among us hasn’t tried a crash diet? We read or hear something, we get ourselves geared up, pick a date, and let the starvation begin! Within 3 days, we are grumpy and starving and end up eating all of the Oreos when nobody is looking! Then our body is upset and confused and gains all the weight back – likely even more.

This can happen with parenting too. We are all guilty of reading a parenting book or seeing someone speak about parenting, recognizing that we need to make changes, and then trying to implement it all overnight. Unfortunately, crash parenting is just like crash dieting – it doesn’t work and leaves your children totally confused. Trying to change your parenting too much at once leaves you frustrated, and your children lost. Then, all of your wonderful intentions are forgotten, and you return to the old patterns leaving everyone even more dazed and confused.

Format

“How long? How long? How long?”

How long depends on you. When your child comes to me for help with their ADHD or autistic behaviours, we will start the process then. If you have the time and are up for the challenge, you can have the steps implemented in 6 weeks.

However, if your child has severe behavioural issues, we are going to take the “slow and steady wins the race” approach. You and I will conference about this at each step and see where you are and where you want to go next.

This is not a race! You have had YEARS to create the dynamic in the family. It may take a few months to make a dramatic and lasting change.

How the program is structured

The program is structured into 6 assignments. Each assignment is designed to implement a parenting skill and each one builds on what was mastered in the previous assignments.

Each assignment gives you a picture of what is common in the families I work with, a little bit of theory and some specific strategies. There are questions to help you to think through how the strategy can work in your family with your child. This step helps you to prepare for implementing the strategy.

You will be asked to use the strategy and write down over the course of the week. At the end of the week you will reflect on what worked and what didn’t

The weekly topics are

1. How this program works, how long it takes and how it is structured.
2. Positive reinforcement for positive behaviour.
3. Consequence statements “When…, then…”; “If…, then…”.
4. Setting out expectations and rewards.
5. Siblings.
6. Motivation methods for your child.
7. Managing other adults in your child’s life.

“When you know better, you do better.”

~ Maya Angelou

Timing

Typically, we schedule seven 60 to 90 minute in-person meetings, phone conferences, or Zoom meetings – the choice is yours. If enough families are interested in one area, a group with a weekly scheduled meeting can be formed.

This can also be accomplished online with Zoom or other communication apps.

Cost

The program cost is $1725 including GST per family for one on one coaching or $920 for group coaching.

This includes 10-14 hours of meeting time and unlimited email support.

Take the next step to effective parenting!

I can personally vouch for the effectiveness of these techniques because they are the ones I used with my own sons. This programme puts into easy, achievable steps the methods I adopted after trial and error over 20 years.

Did it work?

My own sons are now in loving long-term relationships, live within the law and pay tax! Don’t get me wrong, parenting these kids had its challenges, but they are awesome adults who live, love and work independently.

You and your family don’t have to live with the frustrations of challenging behaviours. You don’t have to put up with the angst that comes from parenting challenging children. If you’d like to have a harmonious family life, or if you have any questions, just get in touch.

Note: This is a separate and distinct programme from the Davis ® programmes offered at Wellington Learning Solutions.