Sample Lesson Plans for Study Chapters

These are from an AMI chapter in Logan which is studying Dr. Glenn Latham's book "The Power of Positive Parenting," for the next two years. You may copy them for your study chapters, but please attribute the information to Dr. Glenn Latham on each copy made. Thanks!

Lesson #1
The Changing Family....Changing for the Better!
(Based on "The Power of Positive Parenting "By Dr. Glenn Latham)

Most of us, when we think of years gone by, think of families that were the picture of the "Over the river and through the woods" kinds of families....All bundled up together in one big happy sleigh, heading for saintly white-haired grandparents who greeted us with outstretched arms and the scent of homemade bread. We long to be that kind of family. Social research has shown us that the families of yesterday probably had many of the same kinds of problems we have today, but were just too busy trying to survive to define some of those issues. Grandparents then were just as beside themselves about the behaviors of their offspring as we are today. We need to stop buying into the myth of the "ideal family."
Back then, however, society was on the side of the family, and today it is not. We can no longer trust entirely our instincts, intuition, common logic, or conventional wisdom. We need to learn more. We need skills based on scientific principles in human behaviors to have a successful family. We tend to raise our children in the manner we were raised, and that does not always fit today.
The words, "desperate" and "out of control" are words we often hear by frustrated parents. Often, out of panic, they turn to coercive methods to control behavior such as hitting, spanking, screaming, threatening, and hurting the ones they love the most. Fortunately, there is help. For the next two years in AMI, we will be relying upon one of the foremost authorities in the field of human behaviors, the writings of the late Dr Glenn Latham. Three main themes will be discussed:
1. Parent-child relationships
2. Ignoring inconsequential behavior
3. Teaching our children how to behave properly

For this lesson, two simple assignments will be given. The first has to deal with being a more positive person yourself! Did you know that parents are typically five to six times more likely to have negative interactions with their children than they are to have positive interaction? A study conducted in 1984 revealed that whereas in 1930, contact between parents and their children averaged 3-4 hours per day, by 1984 that amount was reduced to 14 ½ minutes, with 12 ½ minutes being spent in negative communication. Scary! Parents often feel the need to "nip trouble in the bud" and get after kids for everything they do wrong. This produces the opposite of what is desired. Since behavior is strengthened by parental attention (whether it is positive or negative) we are much more likely to increase the negative behavior than "nip" it. We just create a negative environment filled with coercion that children want to escape from, or at least get even. A much better way is to learn to be positive and acknowledge behaviors that are appropriate! To quote Dr. Latham, " Parents are always telling me that their children do not hear a thing they say. Well, just try praise. You'll be surprised at how their hearing improves!" (That goes for adults, too).

Assignment #1: Give positive attention to your family when they are doing things that are right. A soft pat on the back, a hug, a high five, or a "Way to go!" will nearly always assure the behavior will be repeated. For one hour, when most of your family is home, give yourself a mark for each positive interaction you have. Try to do it for each member of the family, and keep track of the data. Record any interesting experiences you may have.

Date:_________________ Hour________________
Positive Interactions (one mark for each)

______________________________________________________________________

Experiences:

The second part of the assignment is to LEARN TO IGNORE AGE-TYPICAL, "JUNK" BEHAVIORS! Dr. Latham feels that about 95% of the things kids do that drive their parents crazy should not be given any attention at all. Just turn and walk away. Ignore it. Most likely, it is normal for the age and goes with the territory. When we jump into every argument, it gives them a great audience and encourages the performance. Ignoring such behaviors puts it on "extinction" and it will soon lessen. Then, when the battle is not raging, continue to teach what the right behavior is and watch for a time when they are doing well and comment on it.
Assignment #2
Walk away from a negative behavior. Temper tantrums, quarrels, etc. qualify as long as life or limb is not threatened! As soon as it has died down, watch for a time to compliment the person on working it out and doing the right thing. Try it. You have nothing to lose but a lot of unpleasant behaviors! Record any interesting findings below, or on the back of this page.
_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________
Most of all: Remember to "lighten up" about this whole business of parenting. You are doing a much better job than you think! We all need to smile more. Our family looks at our faces as a barometer of how the world really is, and at least in our own homes, it really can be alright! Here is our chuckle for the day........
"My son Zachary, 4, came screaming out of the bathroom to tell me he'd dropped his toothbrush in the toilet. So I fished it out and threw it in the garbage. Zachary stood there thinking for a moment, then ran to my bathroom and came out with my toothbrush. He held it up and said with a charming little smile, "We better throw this one out too then, 'cause it fell in the toilet a few days ago."