Behavior medication involves the act of reinforcing the desired behaviors through rewards and influencing a decrease in unwanted behaviors through consequences. Key to behavior modification is consistency and follow through; you cannot pick and choose. The technique must be implemented each and every time for the behavior to begin changing, and the reward should be provided immediately following the desired behavior. By following some simple techniques, parents can make positive changes to their child's behavior.
Attentive/Inattentive
Children tend to increase or continue behavior when they are rewarded with attention and stop behaviors that are ignored, reports FamilyDoctor.org. Parents can ignore temper tantrums, which would be a consequence and pay attention to and provide praise for positive behaviors, such as, walking calmly through a store or accepting "no" for an answer. Ensuring that you only ignore behaviors in which your child is not at risk for injuring themselves or others, is key. Also, you child might try to test you and begin to act worse before they act better, so be patient.
Reward Chart
According to FamilyDoctor.org, a good way to develop patterns of good behaviors is through the use of a reward system. Parents can use a reward chart where children can add stickers or stars for good behaviors. Once your child reaches a predetermined number of stickers, she will get a previuosly aggreed upon reward. First, pick a specific behavior that you want your child to increase, such as completing homework without being prompted more than once or cleaning her room every Saturday. Then, explain the reward system that you have devised. Finally, when she completes these behaviors, allow her to put stickers or stars on the chart.
Time-Outs
Time-out can be effective for children. For time-outs to be effective children should be separated from their peers and objects, the time should be short (taking into account their age), verbal interaction should be limited, and if the child acts out during time-out, he must know that he will stay in time-out until the behavior improves, according to Learning Disabilities Online.
Allowance
Allowance can be used as a behavior modification technique, suggests Learning Disabilities Online. You and your child should pick behaviors that need improvement. Once these behaviors are agreed upon, you should set a payment schedule. For instance, if your child brings home good reports from school or feeds the dog every day, she will earn $2 a week. But for every day she doesn't perform the agreed upon activity, her weekly allowance will be docked. Ensure that you keep up your end of the bargain and pay your child on each pay date.
