Nobody likes bribery. We don’t like it in our government and we don’t like it in our parenting. Bribing your kids feels icky to think about. We just want our kids to behave out of the goodness of their hearts, right? Shouldn’t they simply WANT to behave? (Excuse me while I laugh hysterically.) I think
why bribing your kids won’t work: the difference between bribery and reinforcement Read More »
My shy child won’t talk to people when they talk to her and she runs to her room when we have guests. It’s embarrassing sometimes, but mostly I wonder if I should be worried? Shy people get a bad rap. We attach words like ‘withdrawn’ or ‘sullen’ to anyone who isn’t talkative and naturally friendly,
Ask the expert: Help! my four-year-old is so shy! Read More »
Lack of eye contact is a well-known and hotly debated symptom of autism. We know that people with ASD have reduced eye contact with others, but why? There are two theories about eye contact and autism. One is that people with autism avoid eye contact because it’s uncomfortable for them. The other is that because
Importance of eye contact and autism: What you need to know 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 »
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 »
Have what you’d call a non-compliant child? First off, let me promise you you’re not alone. And allow me to encourage you: parenting a non-compliant child is not easy! That said, you CAN be successful. It just requires a new approach. What do I mean by this? Parenting a child with compliance issues (a.k.a. defiant
Tips for dealing with your non-compliant child Read More »
Ready to increase desired behaviors in your child, and take some of the emotional struggles out of parenting a child with special needs? A token economy, also known as token reinforcement, is easy to set up and implement. What is a token economy? Remember that gold star you coveted on your homework in elementary school?
How to set up a token economy for your child Read More »
Why is my kid acting this way? Why can’t my child just behave? Sounds familiar? We’ve all felt the unique frustration that comes on the heels of a tantrum, or worse. But despite this universal truth, talking about behavior, especially children’s behavior, is something that can really cause anxiety for parents. Good news! Behaviors always
Parenting science: the ABCs of behavior Read More »
The breaking point for me was 24.8 weeks pregnant. I’m not sure why the .8 even matters, except for that I know I was counting the hours until I had to actually be responsible for the person growing inside me, so I was a little obsessed with the passage of time. Plus, I’ve always liked
So what is ‘behavioral science’, anyway? Where the journey begins Read More »
Behavioral laws are predictable ways in which behavior is developed and changes over time. And let’s face it: predictable behavior is exactly what parents are looking for, especially when a toddler is rolling around on the floor screaming because they asked for the blue cup, and you GAVE THEM THE BLUE CUP. Here’s what you
How to become a parenting superhero in two easy steps Read More »