Child’s Game
from Helping the Noncompliant Child
by Rex Forehand & Robert McMahon
This is a helpful exercise to help parents to learn non-controlling ways of interacting with their children and to create an opportunity for parent-child positive relationship building (quality time).
Instructions:
1. Child’s Game sessions are about 10-15 minutes each.
2. Explain the Child’s Game to the parent.
3. Model the role of the parent by conducting a Child’s Play session with the child or with the parent role playing the child’s role.
4. Have the parent conduct the Child’s Game with the child or with you role playing the child during the session.
5. Do all 3 of these steps before assigning the parent the homework of conducting a Child’s Game session
Rules for Child’s Game:
1. Child’s activity. Allow your child to choose the activity. Do not introduce anything new into his or her play. If your child changes activities, follow along, but do not change the activity yourself.
2. Follow. Watch with interest what your child is doing. A good way to describe this is “tailgating” your child.
3. Attends. Describe enthusiastically what he or she is doing (these are “attends”). Attends may be viewed as play-by-play account or running commentary on your child’s activity.
4. Some participation and imitation. Participate in your child’s play by handing him or her materials or taking a turn. Be careful not to begin structuring the activity yourself. You may also participate by imitating his or her play. Remember that your child’s activity is to be the center of your attention, so continue to describe his or her activity while working on your own.
5. No questions or commands. Do not ask any questions or give any commands. These interrupt and/or structure your child’s play.
6. No teaching. Do not use this time to teach your child or to test his or her knowledge.