Parents are their children’s first and most influential teachers. That’s an important job — and this popular, highly respected guidebook makes it much easier. Already a trusted resource for thousands of families, this lively book gives parents of children from age 3 through young adulthood proven strategies for teaching children the life skills they’ll need to live as independently as possible. Parents will start with a reader-friendly overview of the basics of teaching and then go deeper with a step-by-step guide to teaching seven different types of skills: get-ready, self-help, toilet training, play, self-care, home-care, and information gathering skills. In this fourth edition, they’ll also find helpful updates and additions, such as

• an expanded section on managing behavior problems, including guidance on identifying the problems, examining behavior, initiating a behavior management program, and encouraging alternative behaviors
  
  
• a new chapter on technology that reflects recent advances and shows how to benefit from using email, instant messaging, Internet communities, search engines, and software
  
  
• a new chapter on strengthening partnerships with other teachers in the child’s life during IEP meetings, through classroom volunteer work, and in everyday communication with them
  
  
• a companion website with downloadable blank forms from the book and more Internet resources, such as links to useful web pages
  

Based on years of work with parents and laced with humor, helpful illustrations, and vignettes, this is a must-have resource for families and all professionals who work with them.

About the Authors
Acknowledgments
Introduction

I. Basics of Teaching (STEPS TO…)

1. Setting Out
   
   
2. Targeting a Skill
   
   
3. Establishing Steps
   
   
4. Picking Rewards
   
   
5. Setting the Stage
   
   
6. Teaching
   
   
7. Observing Progress and Troubleshooting
   

II. Skill Teaching

8. Get-Ready Skills
   
   
9. Self-Help Skills
   
   
10. Toilet Training
    
    
11. Play Skills
    
    
12. Independent Living: Self-Care Skills
    
    
13. Independent Living: Home-Care Skills
    
    
14. Independent Living: Functional Academic Skills
    

III. Behavior Problem Management

15. Identifying Behavior Problems
    
    
16. Examining Behavior
    
    
17. Beginning a Behavior Management Program: Part One: Consequences
    
    
18. Beginning a Behavior Management Program: Part Two: Antecedents and Alternative Behaviors

IV. Supporting Independence

19. Computing—Now It’s Personal
    
    
20. Partnership With Your Child’s Other Teachers

Appendices

1. Get-Ready Skills
   
   
2. Self-Help Skills Inventory
   
   
3. Self-Help Skills Programs
   
   
4. Play Skills Programs
   
   
5. Functional Academic Skills Programs

Index