Using Reinforcement

What is it?

  • Providing something (attention/item/reaction) in response to a behaviour

  • Should be provided for appropriate behaviour that you want to see increase

  • If the response (attention/item/reaction)is reinforcing, there will be an increase in the behaviour it follows

  • You can use a reinforcer/preference assessment to determine and record what items/activities your child enjoys

  • Use items/activities from reinforcer/preference assessment as reinforcers for appropriate behaviour

  • Limit “free access” to highly preferred items-instead use them as reinforcers for appropriate behaviour

  • Reinforce the behaviour, not the child

  • If the appropriate behaviour you are attempting to reinforce does not increase over time, you do not have an effective reinforcer

  • Reinforcement should be delivered IMMEDIATELY following the appropriate behaviour

  • Provide behaviour specific praise with access to the reinforcer

  • Reinforcement should be linked to the function (e.g., if the difficult behaviour resulted in attention, the appropriate behaviour should also result in attention)


Examples

  • Everytime your child uses “please” when they ask for a cookie, you immediately go get them a cookie

  • You ask your child to complete two pages of homework and they complete it and you immediately provide 15 minutes of iPad time and say “you did an amazing job doing your homework”

  • Your child urinates on the toilet for the first time and you give him a high 5, a Smartie and say “Way to go Sam, you peed on the toilet!!!”

  • You provide your child with a ticket worth 1 minute of time every time she uses kind words. She can cash the tickets in for screen time


Systems of Reinforcement

Click above for a First/Then Board Tipsheet

Printables

Small First/Then Board

Large First/Then Board

First/Then Board Dry Erase