I teach foster parents how to therapeutically work with the youth that are placed in their home. The youth that are placed in these homes have emotional, behavioral and/or mental health issues. The funny thing is, for the most part, what I teach these parents are basic parenting skills. Many parents coming through take notes during my classes and make comments about how they are going to implement the techniques with their own children.
I have friends (and friends of friends) who have difficulties with their kiddos. I sometimes offer to give suggestions and/or teach them skills that will help them manage the behavioral issues they are having with their kids. Most of my personal friends will not accept any advice from me--there are two reasons for this: 1. I don't have children 2. their kids don't have "emotional, behavioral and/or mental health" issue--aka their kids are nothing like the "therapeutic" kids I work with.
Here's the deal. Structure, consistency, limits, natural and logical consequences work for ALL children. Positive parenting is an amazing tool. And getting these tools for free is a great deal (just check out the prices for parenting classes). In no way am I saying that I know all the answers because I don't. But I can actually help change kiddos behaviors and improve parenting skills.
Just like other things... people feel that its the youth who are having the problems and that the adults (themselves) aren't doing anything wrong. I have news both the kids AND the parents have to change their behaviors or it just won't work.
I am open to sharing my knowledge with others. Anyone who asks. I can't post a lot of what I know because some of it is not my training material to post.
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