Page 24 - SB-Take me out to the Ball Game

Parent Notes
Take me out to the Ballgame
The concepts used in this fable are frequently referred to as the ABC theory.
“A” An activating event or experience
“B” Your belief system about “A”
“C” The emotional and behavioral consequences
Most children and many adults think that “A” leads directly to “C”. For example, He stepped on my foot and that made me mad so I hit him. The problem for this child is that stepping on the foot and the instantaneous emotion of anger leads to the behavior of fighting.
What is missed by the child in this situation is that there was a cognitive or belief component “B” which can either mollify or exacerbate the emotional and behavioral reaction. A child who thinks of others negatively, The punk better not touch me or
is overly concerned about what others might think, If anyone touches me the others will think I am weak, will generate a more intense emotional reaction and consequently more inappropriate behavioral reaction to someone bumping them or stepping on their foot.
A child with a more rational thinking, It is no big deal, or Don’t get angry or you will get in trouble, will be better able to control their emotional and behavioral reaction in this situation.
What we hope to accomplish in this story is to help your child begin to realize that what they are thinking, either rational or irrational, is what is causing their emotions both good and bad and that this in turn is causing their behavior either appropriate
or inappropriate.
21