The Explosive Child

As part of our Education: Next Generation Online Conference, Dr. Ross Greene was one of our featured speakers. Unfortunately, due to a family emergency he was unable to participate in the conference. Fortunately, Dr. Greene generously met with us online after the conference and we are delighted to share a recording of that interview here. Enjoy!

Dr. Ross Greene is the originator of the innovative, empirically-supported approach now known as Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS), as described in his influential books The Explosive Child and Lost at School. Dr. Greene served on the teaching faculty at Harvard Medical School for over 20 years, and is currently adjunct associate professor in the Department of Psychology at Virginia Tech. He is also the Founding Director of the non-profit Lives in the Balance, which provides free, web-based resources on the CPS model; support and advocacy for behaviorally challenging kids and their caregivers; takes a strong stand against the use of corporal punishment at home and school, the use of restraint and seclusion in schools and restrictive therapeutic facilities, and the use of detention, suspension, and expulsion in schools, preschools, and daycare settings; and advocates for interventions that are non-punitive and non-adversarial. Dr. Greene lectures and provides consultation to families, schools, and restrictive therapeutic facilities throughout the world and lives in Portland, Maine, with his wife and two kids.

Summary:

Dr. Ross Greene talks about how he defines “explosive” (or implosive) kids and why adult imposed consequences don’t work for these children. Ross talks about why behavioral issues are a sign of kid’s lagging skills and unsolved problems and how parents and teachers can identify the root cause of a child’s behavior. He introduces his 3 step method of problem solving, called “Collaborative and Proactive Solutions” (CPS) and addresses common concerns that educators and parents have about using CPS with children.
Length 24:22