The Difficult Parent: An Educators Guide to Handling Aggressive Behavior

Specific strategies for working successfully with challenging parents

Parents are a vital source of support for our schools. School personnel interact with parents on a daily basis and fortunately, most of these interactions are pleasant and helpful, keeping students′ needs in mind. Instances of parental aggression, however, do occur. Volatile or confrontational parents present many unique challenges for educators who have long overlooked this important issue.

The Difficult Parent digs deeply into the problem of parental aggression, specifying strategies for a broad audience of educators. The guide is organized into three modules:

digs deeply into the problem of parental aggression, specifying strategies for a broad audience of educators. The guide is organized into three modules:

1. An introductory examination of parental aggression and confrontation
2. An in-depth explanation of the RAID approach and its mechanics
3. Step-by-step instructions for facilitating the RAID approach in any academic setting

Comprehensive in scope, the RAID approach targets four steps to working successfully with difficult parents:

• Recognize the potential for a volatile encounter
• Assess your ability to deal effectively with the situation
• Identify your advantages
• Defuse the parent′s aggression during the initial approach and greeting

This effective, proven approach is based on real professionals′ mistakes and successes. Specially featured scenarios and anecdotes depict confrontational situations experienced by school personnel, including "from the trenches" interviews with educators who have successfully implemented the RAID approach in their schools. A facilitator′s guide is also included for practical implementation of the RAID approach in the academic setting.