Help With Behaviour Challenges

In terms of parenting, Behaviour Analysts point out that rewards can be extremely beneficial in motivating & rewarding positive child behaviour. For example it can help with behaviour challenges such as following instruction, staying on task, managing anger, reducing tantrums, the reduction of sibling rivalry, etc.

Parents hear of rewarding children often, & worry that the child may become “spoiled” or that it’s not good to be ALWAYS giving them things.

Behaviour Therapists highlight that this is why it is important for parents to understand that in order to not have to be constantly buying new things to reward their child or motivate them, it is more worthwhile to use things that the child already has that they love playing with/using already.

Child Therapists recommend that the things that your child really loves doing or playing is what is going to motivate them the most, and work best as their strongest reinforcers/rewards. Studies in the field of Behaviour Analysis have found that if your child has free access to these things all the time, these things then do not work effectively as rewards. For example, if your child has free access to the iPad & then you try use time on it as a reward, it is less motivating for the child as they may already have been on it earlier or may think to themselves that they won’t do what is being asked of them but they’ll just get it themselves later on.

Preferred items/things that they love are best to be kept for the purpose of rewards/reinforcers & your child will then be motivated to earn access to their preferred items, through presenting with positive behaviour, staying on task, following instruction, etc.

This way your child still has the option to gain access to their preferred items while you also get them to follow instruction & present with more positive behaviour.