1. The document discusses the Kazdin method of positive parenting, which focuses on teaching parents skills to increase desirable child behaviors through consistent use of rewards, ignoring undesirable behaviors, and time-outs from reinforcement. 2. It outlines the basic steps of this approach, including learning about behaviors, using rewards, time-outs, planning attention and ignoring, creating homework plans, and addressing parental stress that can interfere with skill use. 3. The Kazdin method teaches parents to define targeted behaviors clearly and reward positive opposite behaviors consistently with a variety of rewards while ignoring undesirable behaviors.

1. Kevin D. Arnold, PhD, ABPP
The Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy
www.ccbtcolumbus.com
Basic Principles
of Positive
Parenting:
Starting Out on
the Right Foot

2. What we will Cover
• Positive Parenting
• Learning about Behaviors
• Using Rewards
• Using Time Out from Rewards
• Purposeful Attention and Ignoring
• Planning for Homework and School Performance
• Managing Parental Stress
• When, and If, to Talk to Your Pediatrician about
Medication
Positive Parenting: The Basics from Parent
Management Training and the Yale Based
Kazdin Model

3. What to Do at Home
• Use of Positive Parenting
Behavioral Program
• Kazdin’s Parent Management
Training Strategies
• http://yaleparentingcenter.ya
le.edu

4. Positive Parenting Using
the Kazdin Method

5. Positive Parenting Using
the Kazdin Method
• Approach is Positive
• Focus is on Teaching Parents not
Individual Therapy for Child
• Learning Skills to Increase the
Behaviors You Want to See
• Takes Time, Effort, and Practice
• Working to Improve, Not Cure
• Psychologist is a Coach and
Teacher

6. Positive Parenting Using
the Kazdin Method
• Step One: Learning About Behavior
• What is a Behavior, and What Isn’t
• The Positive Opposite
• Learning to See What You Reward
• How to Keep Track of Behaviors

7. Positive Parenting Using
the Kazdin Method
• Step Two: Using Rewards
• Types are material objects, activities and
privileges, praise/attention, and tokens
• Always define the behavior you plan to
reward
• Deliver rewards immediately and
consistently—continuously at first
• Use the points consistently with verbal
reminders
• Understanding contingency as a rule of
life
• Use a point chart, with bigger rewards
and frequent exchanges
• If behaviors don’t change, rewards
should change

8. Positive Parenting Using
the Kazdin Method
• Step Two: Using Rewards
• Giving a Prompt
• Define the Behavior to Work on That
Week
• Give Clear Instructions (not a
request)
• Be polite and Respectful
• Use a two-time rule
• How to express disappointment
positively
• Always come back later for another
try

9. Positive Parenting Using
the Kazdin Method
• Step Three: Time-Out from Reinforcement:
How to Reduce Negative Behaviors
• Rule 1: Always Work to Reward Positive
Opposites First
• Rule 2: Never Use Harsh or Physical
Punishments
• Rule 3: Time-Out Must be Specific to a
Behavior
• Rule 4: Time-Out is Not Isolation, It is
Removal from Rewards of Praise and
Attention
• Rule 5: Use it Immediately in a Calmly
• Rule 6: Reward for Going and Staying
• Rule 7: Short-Duration

10. Positive Parenting Using
the Kazdin Method
• Step Four: Planning Attention and Ignoring
• Always plan to pay attention to the
positive opposite (during or after?)
• Mix it up—non-verbal, attention,
approval
• Be specific with praise: I see you….,
that’s great, thank you!—Be animated
• Plan what to ignore
• Plan when to ignore, how much to
ignore
• Ignore by a) awayness, b) no facial
reactions, c) no conversation, d) leave
room
• Pay attention to any Positive Opposite

11. Positive Parenting Using
the Kazdin Method
• Step Five: Homework
• Shaping—”From start to finish”
• Define the sequence
• Reward start until mastered, then next
step, etc.
• Rewards should be continuous and
consistent
• Rewards progress to the next step, not
every step
• Once the goal is accomplished, always
reward it.

12. Positive Parenting Using
the Kazdin Method
• Step Five: Homework
• The Daily Report Card
• Define a Behavior for Compliance
• Make Sure You Define the Behavior
Clearly
• Designate a Setting/Class
• Teacher Rates Most, Some or Very
Little
• Define These to Overcome
Teacher’s Possible Negative
Perceptual Bias
• Rewards for Progressive Steps at
Home (Coordinate with Teacher)

13. Positive Parenting Using
the Kazdin Method
• Step Five: Homework
• Homework Program
• Set up a daily assignment sheet with
the teacher reviewing it and initials
• Praise and Points for Brining Home
the Assignment Sheet
• Set Up Homework Place
• Routine Times for Homework
• Define Specific Homework Behaviors
to Praise and Give Points to
• Define Privileges or Activities for
Homework Completion
• Communicate each day with the
teacher to see if turned in

14. Positive Parenting Using
the Kazdin Method
• Other Features include…..
• Low Frequency Aggressive Behaviors
• Use of Reprimands
• Use of Cost-Response Activities
• How to Compromise

15. Why We Forget the
Skills
• Parenting Stress/Anxiety
• Learned in Situations Before New Skills
• Ideas about Impending Doom
• Reactions from the Diagram (Negative Reinforcement,
Punitive Talk, Physical Reactions)
• Anticipate Bad Behavior, Guard Stands at the Ready
• Antidote for Learned Parenting Anxiety/Punitive Reactions
• Listen to the Impending Doom Ideas, Write Them Down, Test
Them Out by the Evidence
• Practice Reacting Differently, both in Cognitive Rehearsal and
Real Life Practice Sessions
• Rethink “Failure” as “Mistake,” “Threat” as “Opportunity”

16. What About Medication: Partnering
with your Pediatrician
• Always Consult your
• Typically Medication Improves Self-
Regulation, but Doesn’t Overcome
Habits Already Developed
• Pros and Cons of Extended Release
• Tracking Effectiveness at School
• Tracking Side Effects at School
• Appetite Suppression and the Evening
Bounce
• Bump Dose Pros and Cons
• Adderall vs. Ritalin (Efron Studies)
• Some Studies Suggest Positive Parenting
can work without medication for mild
ADHD if delivered early (ages 3 or 4)