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The Youth Professional's
Problem-Kid Problem-Solver

The Answers to Your Questions .




Q: My kids have so many problems. How do I know where to start?
A: First, make a list of all the problems you see. It may be a long list. Include any concerns including attendance, punctuality, attitude, school failure, family problems, issues of adolescence, "bad" behavior, boredom, classroom disruption, discipline problems, fearful children, EBD (emotionally behaviorally disturbed), SED (severely emotionally disturbed), kids in pain, neglect, loss, peer conflict, hyperactivity, hostility, juvenile delinquency, mental health/coping problems, social issues, fighting, or any area that is difficult to manage. Next, prioritize those problems. For example, issues such as student attendance or conflict resolution might be key for a teacher. A counselor, social worker or psychologist might focus on the child's fear. You select your key concerns that make it difficult for you to accomplish your particular mission with the child. Limit your focus to the top 3 to 6 issues then begin to remedy those concerns first. You will probably want to go to many pages throughout our site as many of our pages will have your solutions. For example, if you are concerned about motivation, you could proceed to our Maximum-Strength Motivation-Maker Newsletter, or you might instead head to our Books Resource Area to purchase one of our many books on transforming apathetic students into motivated ones. Temper and anger problems are also covered in our Books Area but there is key information many other places, for example, at our Must-Have Violence Prevention Tools Area. Be sure not to miss our Temper and Tantrum Tamers book (shown below) if you want immediate solutions for anger and aggression. You will find that single problem areas show up on many different pages so be sure not to miss any part of our huge site. Our live and distance learning classes are your most comprehensive source of help. Plus, youth professionals can call about any coping, school or social problem facing a child or teen: 1-800-545-5736, or just click here for Live Expert Help We can help with both your boys and girls, and all different ages, K-12 elementary, secondary, high school grades, plus Job Corps' and independent living programs' older adolescents and young adults. We have the lesson plans, curriculum, training workshops and on-site inservice classes that you need so working with difficult kids doesn't have to be so difficult.

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The Answers to Your Questions




Q: For multi-problem kids, are there key problem areas that must be addressed first or as soon as possible?
A: Absolutely. The first area that we always recommend you consider is safety, but not just for conduct disordered, anti-social, oppositional, defiant, angry, violent, impulsive types of youngsters. Remember to also consider safety issues for your depressed, withdrawn, abused, neglected, thought disordered, anxious, troubled, runaway and alcoholic/addicted children, including kids in crisis. Also remember the safety issues faced by those children who are gesturing or suicidal, pregnant girls, teen parents, and those adolescents and children who have severe emotional or family problems. This guideline holds true for teachers, principals, court workers, justice workers, foster parents, recreation workers, case managers, and mentors. You don't have to be trained as a social worker, counselor, psychologist or mental health worker to incur an obligation to keep all kids safe. All youth workers have that obligation, regardless of their training, job title, or the mission of their site. The second problem area that we recommend you consider addressing as soon as possible is attendance and punctuality. Why? If you are the best teacher, counselor or special educator-- whatever your job-- it doesn't matter how talented and effective you are if that kid isn't in your classroom or office. You work no miracles on a child who is at home. You teach nothing to a child who is absent. The time to start teaching attendance and punctuality is Day 1, Week 1 of your contact with the child. If a child is absent, nothing else you do that day really matters for that child. Our All-Time Favorite Lessons book (shown below) includes innovative strategies for many of these critical starting points, plus much more.

The Answers to Your Questions




Q: How can this site help me?
A: This site was designed for and by youth professionals. The site serves professionals and para-professionals such as teachers, foster care workers, counselors, teaching assistants, mental health staff, Job Corps workers, GED teachers, day and residential treatment counselors, and independent living program counselors. The site is packed with creative solutions for all types of "kid problems," but our Breakthrough Strategies to Teach and Counsel Troubled Youth Workshops (DVD workshop shown below), and problem-stopping books are far more comprehensive. If you need more than just a sampling of our attention-grabbing methods, you'll want to get some of these resources. You'll find lots of free aid throughout the site, including our free Problem-Kid Problem-Solver internet magazine, Live Expert Help, and hundreds of strategies. If you want thorough help, remember to check out our Live and Video/DVD workshops, on-site inservice training, keynotes and presentations for conferences, along with our books and cassettes.

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