Teachers and parents use behavior management techniques to encourage children to continue positive behaviors and to reduce or extinguish negative behaviors. Most parents and teachers work to increase behaviors such as listening, following directions, showing respect and being responsible. Conversely, adults want children to eliminate talking back, aggression, disrespect and noncompliance.
Training
Training and education provide examples and information for children as to expected behaviors. Examples of training and reinforcement described by N. Mather and Sam Goldstein in their article "Behavior Modification in the Classroom" include modeling, verbal instruction, role-playing, discussion, problem-solving, dialoguing and skills training. Behaviors that benefit from guided training include table manners, introducing people, remaining seated during class assignments and listening respectfully to others.
Positive Reinforcement
When a child is playing, interacting or complying correctly, provide positive reinforcement. A smile, supportive comment and pat on the back are small reinforcers. Other positive reinforcements include making a choice usually made by the teacher or parent, a reduction in chores or homework, a later bedtime and early dismissal to go to lunch or to recess. For some children, tangible rewards work as positive reinforcement, including stickers, tickets or a trip to the toy store. At LD Online, the article "Behavior Modification in the Classroom" states, "The appropriate application of positive reinforcement has repeatedly been demonstrated to increase both on-task behavior and work completion."
Redirection
Behavior management includes verbal and visual reminders to help a child make the right choice. Ask a child, "What do you need to complete before you go out and play?" or "Have you done everything you need to do before we leave for school?" Alternatively, when a child appears about to make a poor choice such as talking out of turn or showing aggression, give the child a pre-decided signal to assist the child in making a good choice. William Sears, M.D., of AskDrSears.com, reminds parents that "Reminders are less likely to provoke a refusal or a power struggle than are outright commands."
Negative Reinforcement
Negative reinforcement includes both natural and imposed consequences. The natural consequence of setting a cup too close to the edge of the table is that the milk spills and the child cleans it up. Jim Fay, author of "Parenting with Love and Logic," explains the natural consequence for a child who stays up reading or playing in her room, rather than going to sleep. "If, in the morning, they are tired from lack of sleep, offer empathy and sadness, 'That's so sad that you are tired. It's going to be a long day. That happens to me when I stay up too late, too.' Send them off to school, take them on a boring shopping trip, etc. . . . and let the consequence do the teaching." The imposed consequence of a child hitting a sibling would be the child completing one of the sibling's chores. Other imposed consequences include time out, writing sentences or removal of priveleges.
References
- Ask Dr. Sears: 10 Techniques to Shape Children's Behavior
- "Parenting With Love And Logic"; Foster Cline and Jim Fay; 2006
- LD Online: Behavior Modification in the Classroom
