The Kids’ Skills method as the way to transform children’s problems into skills

Abstract

Purpose. The article aims to examine the nature of unwanted behaviour, its reasons and objectives, characterize the steps and methods of its diagnosis. The study describes the central ideas of the solution-focused therapy and its peculiarities in work with children, acquaints with the history of the formation of the Kids' Skills method, analyzes its theoretical and methodological basis, and describes the main stages of this approach. Methods. The article uses such research methods as analysis and generalization of theoretical sources of domestic and foreign scientists on issues of problem behaviour in children, central ideas of the solution-focused therapy, peculiarities of work with problem behaviour of a child and the Kids' Skills method. Results. The results of theoretical sources analysis give grounds to single out and characterize the signs and objectives of unwanted children’s behaviour. The classification of four objectives of unwanted behaviour and its main consequences suggested by Rudolf Dreikurs are described. The main steps that play a significant role in problem behaviour diagnosing are presented. This article focuses on a short-term therapy approach aimed at the solution where finding the cause of the problem is not the key element of the work. Therefore, it is significant to present and describe the central ideas of this approach, as well as its peculiarities in work with children. The Kids' Skills method of work with children developed by Finnish psychiatrist Ben Furman is described in detail. The way of its formation, theories and approaches that influenced the creation of the program are displayed. Conclusions. The Kids' Skills method is an effective tool to help a child, improves relations of a family system, and forms a new construct of thinking and attitude to obstacles that occur in life. This approach is based on cooperation, faith in a child's abilities, and desire to learn. This is a structured, systematic approach in work with children with a rather wide range of psychological and behavioural problems.