• Assertive Discipline
• Time Out Steps
• Early Childhood STEP
• 2005 Workshop Schedule

Assertive Discipline: A 2 - 21/2 hour presentation based on child management expert Lee Canter's book Assertive Discipline for Parents. This program has received national recognition on the Today Show, articles in U.S. News and World Report, and Newsweek. This workshop provides a step-by-step approach to handling the misbehavior of children of all ages. The workshop is limited to 20 individuals per session.

The two key concepts that are learned from Assertive Discipline that should be learned are:

1. EFFECTIVE PARENTS ARE IN CHARGE: They are the bosses at home. They say what they mean and mean what they say. They run the house; the children do not. When necessary they will discipline their children.

2. EFFECTIVE PARENTS ARE IN CHARGE BECAUSE THEY HAVE SKILLS: Without the skills, parents tend to respond in an ineffective manner, either non-assertive or hostile.

• NON-ASSERTIVE PARENTS: They do not clearly or firmly tell their children what they want. The beg, plead, etc.
• HOSTILE PARENTS: They respond in a manner which is either verbally or physically abusive to the child. The scream at the children, etc. With skills, they respond in an assertive manner.
• ASSERTIVE PARENTS: They clearly and firmly tell their children what they want and are prepared to back up their words with disciplinary action. Assertive parents possess skills that are critical to dealing effectively with children's behavior.

• SKILL #1: The ability to communicate clearly and firmly to the children what you want.
• SKILL #2: The ability to back up your words with disciplinary action when your children do NOT do what you want.
• SKILL #3: The ability to praise your children and support their positive behavior when they do what you want.

How To Use Time-Out Effectively: A 2 hour video discussion educational program that teaches 20 methods, skills, and principals for managing the behavior of children two to twelve years of age. Class size is limited to 20 parents. Based on S.O.S. Help For Parents, by Lynn Clark, Ph.D.

This two-session workshop, consisting of two hours each session, presents child management methods and skills such as Three Child Rearing Rules, Four Child Rearing Rules to Avoid, and Rewarding Young Children's Positive Behavior. The second session focuses on how to use time-out effectively. Individuals interested in learning time-out must attend both sessions.

TIME-OUT Steps:

BEFORE you begin to use Time-Out, explain to your child how it will work.

1. Select ONE misbehavior (target behavior) your child demonstrates on which to use time-out.
2. Place your child in a hard backed chair in the middle of the room.
3. Wait patiently for the target behavior to occur.

   TARGET BEHAVIOR OCCURS!

4. Place your child in time-out and use no more than 10 words and 10 seconds.
5. Get and use a portable timer, set it to ring in however many minutes your child is in years. If child is three years old, set timer for three minutes, etc. Set timer within hearing distance from your child.
6. Wait for the timer to ring - remove all attention from your child while she waits for the timer to ring.
7. Ask your child, after the timer rings, why she was sent to time-out.

Common Mistakes Parents Make With Time-Out:

1. Talking or arguing with a child before or after placing him in time-out.
2. Using a small child's chair, rocking chair, or couch as a time-out place for toddlers and preschoolers.
3. Using a child's bedroom or an interesting place for time-out with older children.
4. Keeping track of time yourself or using a timer on the kitchen stove.
5. Making a child apologize or promise to be good after he leaves time-out.
6. Threatening to use time-out instead of using it.
7. Trying to shame or frighten a child with time-out.
8. Using very long, very short, or different periods of time for time-out.

Early Childhood STEP :

A video-discussion educational program that teaches parents who have children up to six years of age. Class size is limited to 20 parents. The workshop lasts for seven two hour sessions and covers the following topics.

1. Understanding Young Children - their individual temperaments and stages of development; the importance of play.
2. Understanding Young Children's Behavior - what it is - and what it is not; why children misbehavior
3. Building self-esteem in the early years - the importance of mutual respect and encouragement.
4. Communicating with young children - how to listen, talk so you are heard, communicate through touch, and help children find the words for feelings.
5. Helping young children learn to cooperate - how much cooperation to expect from babies, toddlers, and preschoolers.
6. Effective Discipline - why rewards and punishments don't work, and what works instead.
7. Nurturing Emotional and Social Development - ways to deal with crying, jealousy, fears, tantrums, bedtime, mealtime, toilet training, aggression, and more.

All workshops are free and individuals can sign up by calling the Youth Bureau at 349-3451.

Parenting Schedule 2005

• January 24, 31 - HOW TO USE TIME-OUT EFFECTIVELY, Oswego Youth Bureau, 70 Bunner St., Oswego, NY from 9:30AM-11:30AM

February

• February 7, 14 - HOW TO USE TIME-OUT EFFECTIVELY, Oswego Youth Bureau, 70 Bunner St., Oswego, NY from 9:30AM-11:30AM

March

• March 21 - ASSERTIVE DISCIPLINE at the Youth Bureau, 70 Bunner St., Oswego, NY from 9:30AM -11:30AM

April

• April 11 - ASSERTIVE DISCIPLINE at the Youth Bureau, 70 Bunner St., Oswego, NY from 9:30AM -11:30AM

May

• May 16, 23 - HOW TO USE TIME-OUT EFFECTIVELY at the Youth Bureau, 70 Bunner St., Oswego, NY 9:30AM-11:30AM

Assertive Discipline: A 2 hour presentation based on child management expert Lee Canter's book Assertive Discipline for Parents. This program has received national recognition on the Today Show, articles in U.S. News and World Report, and Newsweek. This workshop provides a step-by-step approach to handling the misbehavior of children of all ages. The workshop is limited to 20 individuals per session.

How To Use Time-Out Effectively: A video discussion educational program that teaches 20 methods, skills, and principals for managing the behavior of children two to twelve years of age. Class size is limited to 20 parents. Based on S.O.S. Help For Parents, by Lynn Clark, Ph.D. The program consists of two sessions, two hours each session for a total of 4 hours.

Any questions should be directed to Dan Reynolds at the Oswego City-County Youth Bureau, 70 Bunner St., Oswego, NY 13126 at 349-3451