Skills Training for Struggling Kids: Promoting Your Child's Behavioral, Emotional, Academic, and Social Development

Challenging kids don't behave badly on purpose--they are simply struggling with the demands on their psychological development. Many tens of thousands of child mental health professionals and parents have already turned to Dr. Michael Bloomquist for essential guidance on understanding acting-out kids and getting them back on track. Now, for the first time, Dr. Bloomquist presents his bestselling skills training program in a book written specifically for parents. This clear, compassionate guide is packed with tried-and-true, thoroughly researched ways to help kids follow rules, get along better with family members and peers, express their feelings productively, and succeed in the classroom. Loads of worksheets, troubleshooting tips, and role-play activities give parents the tools to become their child's best teacher.

Mental health professionals, see also the related title The Practitioner Guide to Skills Training for Struggling Kids.

Michael L. Bloomquist, PhD, a child psychologist, is Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Minnesota, where he conducts research and trains practitioners. He is the author of a related book for mental health professionals, The Practitioner Guide to Skills Training for Struggling Kids. Dr. Bloomquist has worked with struggling kids and teens and their families for more than 25 years. He and his wife are the proud parents of two sons.

Introduction: How to Use This Book

Getting Started and Staying with It

1. The Struggling Child: Understanding Your Child's Behavioral-Emotional Problems

2. Getting Back on Track: Coming Up with a Skills-Building Plan for Your Child and Family

3. Taking Care of Business: Getting Going and Following Through

Enhancing Your Child's Behavioral Development

4. Doing What You're Told: Teaching Your Child to Comply with Parental Directives

5. Doing What's Expected: Teaching Your Child to Follow Rules

6. Doing the Right Thing: Teaching Your Child to Behave Honestly

7. Staying Cool under Fire: Managing Your Child's Protesting of Discipline and Preventing Angry Outbursts

Enhancing Your Child's Social Development

8. Making Friends: Teaching Your Child Social Behavior Skills

9. Keeping Friends: Teaching Your Child Social Problem-Solving Skills

10. That Hurts!: Helping Your Child with Bullies

11. Hanging with the “Right Crowd”: Influencing Your Child's Peer Relationships

Enhancing Your Child's Emotional Development

12. Let It Out!: Teaching Your Child to Understand and Express Feelings

13. You Are What You Think: Teaching Your Child to Think Helpful Thoughts

14. Stress Busters: Teaching Your Child to Manage Stress

Enhancing Your Child's Academic Development

15. Surviving School: Teaching Your Child to Manage Time, Organize, Plan, Review, and Stay on Task

16. Teaming Up: Collaborating and Advocating for Your Child at School

Enhancing Your Well-Being as a Parent

17. You Parent the Way You Think: Thinking Helpful Thoughts to Enhance Parenting

18. Cool Parents: Managing Your Own Stress to Enhance Parenting

Enhancing Your Family's Well-Being

19. Let's Get Together: Strengthening Family Bonds and Organization

20. We Can Work It Out: Strengthening Family Interaction Skills

Resources