Prize, Congratulations, Praise, Treasure box, Treat…did I leave any synonym for reinforcement out?
Reinforcement is definitely our favorite behavior intervention tool! But, what exactly is reinforcement? Well…If we go to the behavior books, we will see that reinforcement is ANY stimulus that increases the likelihood that a behavior will happen more often.
It is very interesting to think that ANYTHING can become a reinforcer. As long as it increases a behavior, it is a reinforcer. Of course, everyone is different, and everyone has a different set of reinforcers that they get motivated by. For some it might be money (the universal reinforcer), time off to do whatever they want, attention, an object or a privilege.
How to Effectively use Reinforcement?
Reinforcement is a very powerful tool. You’ve got to use it wisely.
Keep these four simple guidelines in mind to get the most out of this incredible behavior tool:
1. Timing is everything
Reinforcers are always provided AFTER the behavior has happened. Otherwise, it’s just bribing (that’s the main difference between reinforcing and bribing, in case you were wondering). If you provide the prize or reinforcer before a behavior happens, or weather or not your kiddo completed the task you requested, then the prize no longer has effect, and it will not work. Providing the prize right after your child completed the task you requested is also important, as the right behavior will get reinforced, and it will be most effective the closer it is delivered to the behavior you’re trying to reinforce.
2. Is it really a reinforcer?
Many times, we are giving our kids objects or privileges that we think are working, or that used to work, and we see no positive change in their behavior. If this is happening to you, then stop and think, is this really a reinforcer at this time? Reinforcers also run their course, or become less motivating over time. It can be boredom, saturation (too much of it) or kids simply change their interests and likes. Think about how ice cream used to motivate you when you were 5, but now maybe your biggest motivator might be money, time off, or peace and quiet. I encourage you to explore new types of reinforcers and take a close look at what reaction your child is having to it. I also encourage you to ask them. They will likely tell you what they want at the moment.
3. Make sure there’s motivation
Motivation is as important to reinforcement as the speakers are to the microphone. One doesn’t work without the other. Let’s say your kiddo is reinforced by going to the playground but, today he is very tired because he had a busy PE class. Do you think the trip to the park will be reinforcing today? Or if your little one is reinforced by getting one hot wheels car at the store once a week but, his uncle just bought him a collection of 50 hot wheels cars. Is the trip to the store to get just one car be reinforcing then?
Keep motivation into account, and work around it. If a situation like this happens to you, offer a different kind of reinforcer that might work today such as stickers today instead of hot wheels.
4. The Plan was Always to Fade
Many parents get concerned about using external reinforcers (prizes that don’t happen naturally) with their kids because they fear that their little ones will become dependent on the prize to be able to complete a task they don’t want to do. And these parents would be completely right. Again, reinforcement is a powerful tool, and if used incorrectly, it might actually reinforce the wrong conduct and encourage behaviors that in the end might hurt them.
This is why I want to remind you of the last (but not least) part to reinforcement, the fading. Without fading, our child might become dependent to having an external reinforcer at all times.
The plan here is to transfer the motivation of doing a difficult task from external to natural reinforcers. We want our child to ultimately do their bed because it looks so good when its done, or to pick up their dishes from the table because the table will be nice and clean without the dirty dishes.
This of course, doesn’t happen overnight, and we will definitely need fading. If you stop providing prizes for good behavior overnight, the behavior will disappear. We’ve got to do it slowly. Lets look at an example:
· Lets say sally gets to pick a movie to watch every day after she makes her bed (daily).
· After 3 weeks of sally making her bed by herself and getting movies daily, we will provide a movie every Wednesday and Friday only.
· Sally is doing great for another 3 weeks, so now she gets a movie on Fridays only for making her bed all week
· 4 weeks later, Sally gets verbally reinforced for making her bed (“Good job sally!”) and gets a movie 2 times a month
· 4 weeks later sally gets verbal praise for making her bed
· 4 weeks later, sally makes her bed without any reinforcement, but mom praises her verbally occasionally.
This is a win for Sally!!!
Reinforcement is our favorite behavior tool simply because reinforcement builds up and encourages. Our child gets to decide if they want to work for their reinforcement and it promotes independence in our children as well. All in all, reinforcement is the ideal behavior tool for your family.