Think:Kids

Think:Kids comes from The Massachussets General Hospital hopsital's Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) approach. It is a method for

coaching behaviors to manage behaviors,

by working WITH learners as opposed to fixing FOR learners

and focuses on helping learners when they encounter challenges and respond with dysregulation. It's a wholistic approach to problem solving with learners around their behaviors and choices. It is designed to help build skills, dispositions, and habits.

MC2 focuses on rethinking challenging behaviors, situations, and expectations. We do this by being proactive and also thoughtfully responsive with all learners.

Think:Kids' motto is "Kids will do well if they can." Because MC2 believes that "We are all learners," we choose to employ this motto with everyone: colleagues, parents, and adolescents. We like to say,

"People will do well if they can."

Think:Kids identifies three types of responses to challenges:

Plan A - is about the goals of the adult, usually focused around emergency or safety issues. "Need this to stop RIGHT NOW!" Use sparingly. Try to use Plan B to follow up. ANY PROBLEM that can be handled using Plan A, can also be handled using Plan B.

Plan B - is Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) and pursues all 5 goals for intervention. It addresses both adult and student concerns. See below for details.

Plan C - is focused on "letting it go" ...for now. It prioritizes student desires and helps with relationship building, but doesn't necessarily address the problem or the lagging skills. Follow up with the student in Plan B.

Plan B

focuses on Collaborative Problem Solving. It may take more time than a traditional approach, but it saves time in the long run.

It is both learner and adult centric, making sure all parties are equally heard. Plan B always goes through the three steps:

1. (Regulate) Empathic Listening
2. (Relate) Student Concerns
3. (Respond) Problem Solving together

Plan B has a few variations to it, and can look like any of the following:

• Proactive Plan B - conversation is anticipated - has a step beforehand. The adult may complete the Assessment and Planning Tool (APT) to begin identifying situations and skills that may be contributing to the challenge.
• Spontaneous Plan B - is an unanticipated conversation, it happens spur of the moment and usually without the preparation of the APT. It may address 4 of the 5 intervention goals, but has the potential to not solve problems durably. It can often benefit from follow up conversation.
• Group Plan B - is when a group goes through the three stages of Collaborative Problem Solving. We often do this in our community meetings, norm setting, and advisory structures.
• Emergency Plan B!!! - is very similar to Spontaneous Plan B, but prioritizes de-escalation and regulation. (Need to learn more)

Tools (Visual Versions Below):

• CPS - Assessment and Planning Tool (APT)
• Thinking Skills Inventory
• Thinking Skills Reference Sheet
• Plan B Conversation Organizer