Four Books for Parents and Teachers Working With Children Who Exhibit Problem Behavior

Children often explore the social norms and limitations surrounding socially acceptable behavior. However, most children will learn how to cope with these feelings in a socially appropriate manner, while some children will continue to struggle with this. This could include a child behaving in a way that lacks obedience and/or exhibits high aggression. It can be hard to work with and handle these children when they act out in a number of different settings. 

Our team of neuropsychologists, school psychologists, and psychology students at South County Child and Family Consultants are committed to searching the Internet and beyond to find reputable, informative, and practical tools to help educate parents on how to help children who struggle with behavior management. We look for the best information online to help kids diagnosed with ADHD, Learning Disabilities, Executive Functioning Difficulties, struggles with Social Emotional Learning (SEL) skills,  Autism, Depression, and Anxiety and provide you with information about how neuropsychological evaluations help in targeting concerns about behavior management. Come back regularly, as the links are updated frequently.

Whether you are a parent, teacher, school administrator, etc., you may be struggling to work with a child exhibiting behavior management difficulties. Below is a list of books written for parents, teachers, and others with some tips and guidelines to help you understand the child’s behavior and to help you work with the child on how to respond appropriately to their feelings. 

Beyond Behavior Management: The Six Life Skills Children Need

By Jenna Bilmes

Amazon Review: “All children—not just those with challenging behaviors—require guidance as they develop the social and emotional skills they will use the rest of their lives. This resource provides everything you need to help children build and use six essential life skills: attachment, belonging, self-regulation, collaboration, contribution, and adaptability. Developed and tested in the classroom, this strength-based approach includes strategies, examples of supportive interactions, and special activities to help you manage challenging behaviors and strengthen social and emotional development in all children.”

How to Reach and Teach Children with Challenging Behavior

By Kaye Otten 

Amazon Review: “This book provides a comprehensive framework for understanding and addressing problem behavior in schools. Otten and Tuttle have translated complex evidence-based assessment and intervention strategies into clear and easy-to-follow steps, and offer an abundance of examples drawn from their many years of experience. This will serve as an excellent resource for special educators, behavioral consultants, and teacher assistance teams as they work toward building comprehensive positive behavior support plans for children and youth.” —Tim Lewis, Ph.D., co-director, Office of Special Education Programs Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports

Lost at School: Why Our Kids with Behavioral Challenges are Falling Through the Cracks and How We Can Help Them

By Ross W. Greene

Amazon Review: “School discipline is broken. Too often, the kids who need our help the most are viewed as disrespectful, out of control, and beyond help, and are often the recipients of our most ineffective, most punitive interventions. These students—and their parents, teachers, and administrators—are frustrated and desperate for answers. This revised and updated edition of Lost at School contains the latest refinements to Dr. Greene’s CPS model, including enhanced methods for solving problems collaboratively, improving communication, and building relationships with kids.”

Behavior: The Forgotten Curriculum: An RTI Approach for Nurturing Essential Life Skills

By Chris Weber

Amazon Review: “To fully prepare students for college, careers, and life, it is essential for educators to nurture students’ behavioral skills along with their academic skills. With Behavior: The Forgotten Curriculum, you will learn how to employ the most effective behavioral and social skills activities for your particular class and form unique relationships with each and every learner. Through this personalized classroom behavior-management approach, you can anticipate potential problem areas and confidently respond to students in need of intensive and differentiated supports.”