Although the science of ABA (applied behavioral analysis) can be applied to any type of behavior, it is most often applied to individuals with autism and people with ASD. Behavioral science and autism are linked. Why is that? Without all the jargon, ABA is the science of motivation and learning, and while autism is not
Behavioral science and autism: how to help your child Read More »
So, your child has been prescribed ABA therapy. What next? ABA therapy is a commitment. ABA can also be a sacrifice of your time and resources and your ideas about your parental interactions with your child. To make that commitment and sacrifice, you need to understand your role as an ABA parent and what you should
What’s expected of you as an ABA parent? Read More »
Why does behavior escalate? How does an everyday moment result in the biggest toddler tantrum of all time? What I’m really asking is: what is the toddler tantrum cure? More specifically, how did I end up with my usually pretty decent three-year-old writhing in a puddle of tears and sweat with matted hair at the
Toddler tantrum cure: stop monster moments Read More »
You may have heard that you teach people how to treat you. For parents, this applies to our children, especially when it comes to finding a bad behavior fix. We teach our children how to treat the people in the world around them—including their siblings, teachers, and us!—by what we allow, what stop, and what
Parenting reset: the one-step bad behavior fix Read More »
Getting younger kids motivated to learn at home is hard enough…but how on earth do we motivate high school teens to study during remote learning? I’ll be real: my 15-year-old really struggles with online learning. His motivation to finish virtual assignments is nil unless I am right on-hand to prompt him to keep going. This
Ways to motivate teens to do virtual assignments Read More »
If you’ve been reading The Real Thinking Mom for a while now, you may be thinking, “You keep using that word: reinforcement.” Let’s talk about reinforcement. Do you know what reinforcement is really? Check out the following Big Bang clip: Reinforcement is something that you get after something that you do that makes it so
Defining behavioral science: Positive Reinforcement Read More »
What is negative reinforcement? As a refresher, reinforcement is something you get after something that you do that makes it so you want to do that again. Reinforcement increases behavior. It makes it stronger. Reinforcement is the powerhouse of behavior change. Pretty easy, but then, behavioral science makes it hard by adding words like ‘positive’
Defining behavioral science: Negative Reinforcement Read More »
What is an Extinction Burst? Sounds like something you want to avoid, right? An extinction burst is a temporary increase in behavior to get the reward that you are used to getting. Look at the cartoon below. Billy is hoping to get his mom’s attention. Based on his history of behavior in the past, he
Defining behavioral science: Extinction burst Read More »
If you’re working from home while simultaneously keeping kids on task during distance learning, you deserve a medal! (And that’s pretty much all of us right now, isn’t it?) Here’s how to deal: teach your kids the art of self-monitoring during online learning (hey, this may even help you stay on task at work, too)!
Keeping kids on task during distance learning (through self-monitoring) Read More »
Here’s the scene: I’m working from home, trying to edit a document while spying on my kid, who’s in his third Zoom online learning class of the day. Every time it goes silent on his side of the table, I give him side-eye. “Why is it quiet? Aren’t you supposed to be ‘in class’?” “I’m
10 tips for increasing attention during online learning Read More »