Jed Baker, Ph.D. Social Skills Training Project 1 Managing Frustration and Anxiety in Children, Teens and Caregivers Jed Baker, Ph.D. www.socialskillstrainingproject.com First help caretakers have the right attitude Understand why students misbehave Manage your own emotions as a provider De- escalate crises with your students Set up prevention plans for any repeat problems Quote from Yoda – Star Wars • FEAR IS THE PATH TO THE DARK SIDE • FEAR leads to ANGER • ANGER leads to HATE • HATE leads to SUFFERING One size fits all… until one size does not fit all • Discipline, rules and consequences can be a first step • But when it does not work: – Continue in an escalating power struggle? – Or ask why is it happening so we can prevent the problem rather than simply react to it. “Fear leads to anger” applies to caregivers as well • We can have our buttons pushed • React out of fear by – Giving in – Getting mad and forcing compliance • Or use our intellect to figure out how solve problem for next time 90% of Teaching and Parenting is Tolerance • Can we tolerate our own discomfort long enough to think about what to do? • Discipline is a starting point: But what if it does not work?
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Managing Frustration and Anxiety in Children, Teens and Caregivers · 2017-04-17 · Managing Frustration and Anxiety in Children, Teens and Caregivers Jed Baker, Ph.D. First help
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Jed Baker, Ph.D.
Social Skills Training Project 1
Managing Frustration and Anxiety in Children, Teens and
Caregivers
Jed Baker, Ph.D.
www.socialskillstrainingproject.com
First help caretakers have the right attitude
Understand why
students misbehave
Manage your own emotions
as a provider
De-escalate
crises with your
students
Set up prevention
plans for any repeat problems
Quote from Yoda – Star Wars
• FEAR IS THE PATH TO THE DARK SIDE
• FEAR leads to ANGER
• ANGER leads to HATE
• HATE leads to SUFFERING
One size fits all… until one size does not fit all
• Discipline, rules and consequences can be a first step
• But when it does not work:
– Continue in an escalating power struggle?
– Or ask why is it happening so we can prevent the problem rather than simply react to it.
“Fear leads to anger” applies to caregivers as well
• We can have our buttons pushed
• React out of fear by
– Giving in
– Getting mad and forcing compliance
• Or use our intellect to figure out how solve problem for next time
90% of Teaching and Parenting is Tolerance
• Can we tolerate our own discomfort long enough to think about what to do?
• Discipline is a starting point: But what if it does not work?
• Hope! Yet expect delays in what you want to accomplish. (Temporary, Specific)
• The individual’s behavior is not intended to simply challenge your authority, but is rather a reflection of his/her lack of coping skills. (External not Internal)
• Most observers do not question your competence, they get that this is part of dealing with kids or challenging students. Laugh it off.
Quote from Educator/Philosopher Chaim Ginott (1971)
• “As a teacher, I have come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather.
• As a teacher, I possess tremendous power to make a child’s life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal.
• In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated, a child humanized or dehumanized.”
Difficulties Associated with Challenging Behavior
• Difficulty with abstract thinking & perspective-taking.
– Misbehavior is often unintentional! Teach perspective more than discipline.
• Inflexibility: Limited problem solving
– Learning facts is more enjoyable than socializing.
– Preparation and expanded problem solving avoids meltdowns.
Difficulties Associated with Challenging Behavior
• Low Frustration Tolerance
– Limbic system: Controls emotions and fight, flight or freeze response
– Forebrain: Reasoning and planning
– Limbic system can hijack the rest of the brain
– Prevent rage and distract when in rage.
Behavior Management
• Step 1: Relationship Issues
– Warmth and caring
– Structure with use of visual supports, differentiated instruction
• “Where you go is not who you’ll be: An antidote to the college admissions mania” by Frank Bruni (2015)
• Ivy vs. Public Schools
– 1st job out
– Re-analyze equalizing SAT scores
• Easier to get in to college despite lower rates of acceptance
Trying When Its Hard from Jed Baker YouTube Channel
• From YouTube Channel: No More Meltdowns, Jed Baker
Dealing with Fear 1. Change the triggers
– Can avoid feared situation when easy, but some situations we may need to face
2. Teach “Dealing with fear”
– Win them over to working on issue
– Explain anxiety: True versus false alarms
– Gradual exposure to fear: Create fear ladder
– Thing like a scientist: Overestimating likelihood or danger of neg event
– Larger context of stressors
– Add exercise, meditation/relaxation
– Consider neurofeedback, meds if needed
Jed Baker, Ph.D.
Social Skills Training Project 5
Dealing with Fear
3. Reward system
– For facing each step of a fear
4. Avoid loss system when anxious
Selective Mutism: Fear Ladder
Situation Points
Nod “yes” or “no” 1
Whisper to best friend
who can then tell others
what she said
2
Whisper to other peers or
teacher
3
Talk in louder voice to
peers or teacher
4
Talk to any classroom
visitors
5
OCD: Think like a scientist Feared
situation
Anxious thought Realistic Outcome
Touching
germs
I will get a
lethal disease.
I have skin that will protect me
if I leave it intact and do not
over wash or crack the skin.
Germs I encounter are not lethal
and can only cause minor
treatable illnesses.
Not being
able to
wash
repeatedly
The germ will
remain on me
and lead to
illness.
Data show that washing once after
exposure to germs, using warm not
hot water is all that is needed.
Washing more can damage the
protection of the skin. If I
refrain from putting fingers in
eyes or mouth, I am not likely to
allow the germ to enter my body.
OCD: Fear ladder Situations Fear level 1-5 Points
earned
Not touching any doors, public or others belongings, and
not washing hands until doing so
2 2
Touching a door handles, community property, others’
belongings, or something that fell to the floor and not
washing for 5 minutes
3 3
Washing just once with warm water for about 20 seconds
and rinsing for 10 seconds and then not washing again
until the next time touching community property
3 3
Touching a door handles, community property, others
belongings, or something that fell to the floor and not
washing for 10 minutes
4 4
Touching a door handles, community property, others
belongings, or something that fell to the floor and not
washing for 20 minutes
4 4
Not washing before eating 5 5
Not washing for at least 20 minutes after using public
restroom
5 5
Not washing hand for one full day 5 25
Waiting, Accepting No, Stopping Fun
1. Change the triggers
– Use a visual timer and shorten wait time
– Create a visual schedule. Use a “to do” box
– Videotape perseverative routine
– Highlight reward for waiting/accepting no & prime ahead
2. Teach skills (invisible payoff)
– Waiting: get some later
– Accepting no: get something else later
– Stopping on time: get to go back later
Jed Baker, Ph.D.
Social Skills Training Project 6
Video Accepting No Waiting, Accepting No,
Stopping Fun
3. Reward system
– Points for waiting, accepting no and stopping on time
– Disappointment poster
4. Natural loss systems:
– Can’t stop, can’t do it again
Self-esteem: Mistakes, Losing, Teasing
1. Change the triggers
– Offer choice: let them win or not see mistakes
– Stack the deck: with activities that they do well (80/20)
– Prime ahead
– Protect from teasing
2. Teach skills (invisible payoff) – Mistakes help us learn
– Win the invisible game: friendship/self-control
– Teasing: check it out 1st, stop, ignore, report
ABC NEWS
Self-esteem: Mistakes, Losing, Teasing
3. Reward system: – Rewards for handling imperfection are greater
than rewards for winning or doing work right.
4. Avoid loss systems when frustrated
Unmet Needs for Attention
1. Change the triggers
– Schedule attention: special time
– Use a timer and red/green cards
– Provide an appropriate outlet: theatre, presentation
2. Teach “Positive Ways to Get Attention”
– How to get adult attention
– How to get peer attention: Public versus private topics
– Rules of comedy: Can’t make fun of vulnerable, use slapstick, random thoughts, and self-deprecation
Jed Baker, Ph.D.
Social Skills Training Project 7
Public/Private
Public Private
Past: How was ____? Avoid sensitive topics:
Future: What are you going to do ____? Sex, Violence, Race, Religion, Politics
Present: What are you _______? Avoid insults
Common/other interest: Did you ____? Avoid curses
Unmet Needs for Attention
3. Reward system:
– Rewards for appropriate topics
4. Loss systems:
– Response cost
Warning
Loss of:
10 min
Simpsons
Warning
Loss of:
snack
Loss of:
20 min
Simpsons
Loss of:
30 min
Simpsons
Sensory Needs: Self-Stimulation
1. Change the triggers
– Alter sensory environment
– For boredom, reduce wait time and engage
– Modify frustrating work
2. Teach skills
– Alternative ways/times to self-stim
– How to be a self-advocate for better environment
Sensory Needs: Self-Stimulation
3. Reward system
– Reward new ways to self-stim
4. Loss systems:
– Maybe response cost
Unexpected Triggers: Self-Calming
1. Prepare for unexpected
– Collaborate on ways to distract and soothe in preparation for the unexpected upsets. Create a relaxation folder.
– Establish a safe person
2. Teach skills
– Self-talk: “All problems can be solved if you can wait and talk to the right person.”
– Draw or write the thing that distracts/soothes you.
Unexpected Triggers: Self-Calming
3. Reward system:
for using calming strategies
4. Natural loss systems:
– outbursts will limit continued participation in certain events.
Jed Baker, Ph.D.
Social Skills Training Project 8
Tiered Model of Social Skills Training • Tier 1: School-wide
– Adding structure and options at lunch/recess – Training of aides, staff – Antibullying programs – Peer sensitivity training, creating inclusive social environments
• Tier 2: Case conference (RTI) – Lunch bunches, social skill groups – Consultation with specialists
• Reinforces with praise, reward, or token economy.
• Need a gimmick for role-play or instruction!
Jed Baker, Ph.D.
Social Skills Training Project 13
Listening Position
1. Make eye contact.
2. Quiet hands and feet. Stay still.
3. Quiet mouth. Don’t talk while others are talking.
Social Stories
• Create a narrative, written in the first person, to increase understanding of target social situation.
• Start with child’s perspective of a target situation and expand it to include others’ perspectives. Give choices and show positive outcome.
Social Stories
• Use 2-5 descriptive and perspective statements for every directive statement.
• Use language that makes sense to child.
• Read 3-5 times per day and just before target situation.
Incidental Teaching
• It is experiential rather than a didactic skill lesson
• It is coaching social interaction as it is unfolding naturally. It involves:
– Pointing out the perception/feelings of others in the moment.
– Highlighting non-verbal cues.
– Correcting misperceptions (e.g., accidents vs. malicious actions).
– Prompting conversation, play, & emotion management skills as they are needed
• Social Autopsy is an important component.
Motivation
Pre-verbal
Reasoner
DTT-Lovaas
Adult directed,
reward not
necessarily
related to
response
PRT – Koegel
VBT – Sundberg
Reward is naturally related to
response
Floortime DIR – Greenspan
Follows lead of child in play
Early Start Denver Model – Rogers
and Dawson
Verbal
Reasoner
Behavior charts
and token
systems where
rewards
promised for
target behaviors
Link behavior to student’s goals
Increase self-awareness of strengths
prior to challenges (at least by 14)
Have students teach others
Make interaction fun
Extrinsic/contrived Intrinsic/naturalistic Motivation to Increase Interactive Play for
Less Verbal Students
• Explore activities that may be enjoyable to the student. Decrease language and wait time. Examples: – Hide and seek, follow the leader, catch/roll ball, red
light/green light, guess the animal/feeling, hungry hippos, lucky ducks, go fishing.
• Create visual communications system to initiate and respond to play requests (e.g. choice board).
• Establish routine of playing several games increasing sustained play.
• Teach typical peers to play student’s favorite games, use visual communication system, and give taget student choice of activities.
Jed Baker, Ph.D.
Social Skills Training Project 14
Skill Acquisition • How to teach
– Limited receptive language: ABA (DTT/PRT/VBT), video modeling, picture books, cognitive picture rehearsal.
– Good receptive language: Social Stories, structured learning
• Where to teach
– Class Format
– Small Group: Talk time, skill time, activity time.
– Individual: When attention and cooperation may not
be available in group.
Generalization
– Prime the skill • Verbally cue the skill
• Visually cue the skill: Assignment sheet, cue card or behavior chart
– Coach skill use as it happens • Baiting in class
• Natural situations, lunch bunches, cooperative group projects, play times, internships, frustrating work
– Individual behavior plans for those with more needs
– Intense treatment for those with conduct disorders
Jed Baker, Ph.D.
Social Skills Training Project 15
Overview of Peer Sensitivity
• Is it okay not to play with someone just because they are different from you?
• How are we all the same and different?
• What if we were not allowed to play because of our difference?
Be a HERO not a BULLY!
1. Don’t bully or tease
2. Stand up for others who get bullied
3. Include those who get left out
Generalize peer kindness
• KINDNESS JAR
• Create rotating PEER LEADERS
Should you ever highlight one particular student to peers?
• When peers have a very negative view of the student already, a general kindness program may not be enough
• Get permission from the student and family to talk about him
• Have them review a particular script
• Sample script for John with AS and Bipolar
Peer Sensitivity for John
• I am here to talk with you about a student in your class. He is the same as you and different.
• How are we all the same and different?
• We are also different in the way we sense things?
What are the Five Senses?
Sense Difficulty
• Seeing Blindness
• Hearing Deaf
• Touch Touch Changes
• Taste Taste Changes
• Smell Smell Changes
Jed Baker, Ph.D.
Social Skills Training Project 16
The Sixth Sense: The Social Sense
1. Knowing what to do and say in social situations. – Starting Conversations
– Asking to Play
2. Reading body language
3. Easy to make friends.
Hey. How’s it going?
Can I play too?
Social Blindness: Problems with the Social Sense
1. Trouble knowing what to do and say in social situations. – Starting Conversations
– Asking to Play
– Off the topic
2. Trouble with body language. – Little Eye Contact
3. Hard to make friends
4. Trouble with Sports.
?
John’s Difficulties: Social Blindness
1. Trouble knowing what to do and say in social situations.
– Starting Conversations
– Asking to Play
2. Hard to read body language
3. Hard to make friends
4. Talks a lot about video games
5. Annoys when rejected
John’s Strengths and Talents
1. Intelligent even though new work may upset him.
2. Great artist.
3. Excellent memory for facts
4. Good at Video Games
5. Caring Person
Famous People with Social Blindness
• Albert Einstein - Physicist
– Social difficulties, Learning Disability
• Bill Gates - Founder of Microsoft
– Social Difficulties
Famous People with Social Blindness
• Thomas Edison - Inventor – Social difficulties, Learning
Problems
• Wolfgang Mozart - Composer – Social Difficulties
Jed Baker, Ph.D.
Social Skills Training Project 17
Famous People
• Marie Curie – Nobel prize winner in chemistry – Social difficulties, discovered
radioactive elements
• Temple Grandin – designer of livestock handling facilities, associate professor of animal science, noted author – Social Difficulties
Group Exercise
1. One student leaves for a moment while others learn how to join in.
2. Student returns and tries to join in.
Everyone gets rewards for joining
How Can We Help John?
• Invite him to join in conversation and play during lunch/recess and other times.
• Stand up for him if he is teased.
• Offer help if he is upset.
• Marble jar
• Lunch buddies
• Extra-curricular buddies
In Closing
Can we tolerate our own discomfort
long enough to . . .
Think
Rather than react
out of fear or anger Can we enjoy what
we do?
Q and A about any skill area
• Prerequisites to learning from others: – Joint Attention – Receptive language (intra-verbals)
• Core Conversational Skills (Responding and Initiating) • Play and working cooperatively • Understanding Yours and Others’ Feelings • Conflict resolution/Assertiveness/Teasing • Friendship to Dating • Employment Skills • Sexuality Issues
• No More Victims: Protecting Those with Autism from
Cyber Bullying, Internet Predators & Scams (Baker, 2013)
• Overcoming Anxiety in Children and Teens (Baker, 2015)
• School Shadow Guidelines (Liau & Baker 2015)
References
• Baker, J. E. (2008). No more meltdowns. Arlington, TX: Future Horizons, Inc.
• Dweck, C.S. (2007). Mindset: The new psychology of success. Ballantine Books.
• Goleman, D. (1997). Emotional intelligence. New York: Bantam Books.
• Willingham, D. T. (2010). Why don't students like school: A cognitive scientist answers questions about how the mind works and what it means for the classroom. Jossey-Bass.