Houston Achievement Place

Project CLASS Relationship Skills include Using Kind Words, Calming Down, Effective Problem-Solving and Making Good Choices. These skills build basic social skills and are designed to help students get along with one another. These skills are needed to succeed in life. These relationship skills are also defined by specific behaviors that students can learn and practice to be successful.

The entire community benefits when children have the social and behavioral skills that they need. This is because they have the tools to not only take care of themselves and help others, but can use these tools to create both short term and long term positive effects in their community.

Encouraging children to develop strong social skills helps them navigate various aspects of life, build meaningful relationships, and contribute positively to their communities.

As a parent, you will sometimes need to tell your child(ren) No. If children can Accept No without arguing, whining or talking back, they will get along better with others and avoid arguments. It is hard for many of us to Accept No. Praise each step that a child makes toward Accepting No. Looking, Listening, & Moving On takes practice.

Rewards are a positive reinforcement for a behavior we want a child to repeat. Notice the behavior you like and pair it with an appropriate reward. Rewards do not have to cost money. They can be a freedom, like not having to do a chore. They can be time, like 20 extra minutes of screen time. They can also be a privilege, like getting to pick dessert. Be clear when giving your reward. You could say, “Because you Accepted my Feedback and corrected your spelling right away, you will get to use your device an extra 10 minutes today.”

Tell your child what behaviors you want them to do and why. Then practice the skill. Setting Expectations promotes your child’s success and holds them accountable for their own behavior. It establishes your expectations for their behavior and provides an opportunity to PRAISE them for practicing social skills. In addition, it helps the parent/child relationship. Set your expectations when you are teaching the skill and when you need to review the skill for use in a new situation.

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Research shows that children appreciate reasons and effective parents and teachers give reasons. Reasons are important because they motivate children. The best reasons show the child the relationship between their behavior and what happens as a result of the behavior.

Reminders will help your children be more successful. When they forget to use their Social Skills – give them a reminder.

Increase the behavior you want to see in your children with praise and positive attention. Be specific with the positive behavior you see them do and give a reason why it helps them if they keep doing that behavior.