If you have worked with a BCBA in the past, it is likely that you have heard the term FUNCTIONS OF BEHAVIOR. BCBAs look at functions in order to determine WHY specific behaviors are occurring. Then they develop a document called a Behavior Support Plan or BSP. It contains the definitions of ... read more
Snap Together Stories
Snap Together Stories are the perfect addition to the millions of building bricks you have scattered around. Do you have a child who enjoys playing with LEGOs? A few years ago when I was working as a special education teacher, I had a classroom full of boys who LOVED LEGOs. I searched high ... read more
Behavior Specific Praise
Behavior specific praise is an important aspect of positive reinforcement. Children are constantly looking for attention from the adults in their life. Yet, that attention is often delivered following a negative behavior. For example: A child who follows their bedtime routine on the first ... read more
Offering Controlled Choices
Arguing with your child about every little thing can be exhausting, am I right? Enter CONTROLLED CHOICE-MAKING. Giving your child the power to make choices is an important strategy for any parent. It allows children to have some control over their own lives. Which in turn can help you avoid those ... read more
The Power of Positive Phrasing
Parents, do you feel like you are constantly saying "No/Stop/Don't" to your child? Learning about how to use the power of positive phrasing can be an asset for parents everywhere. Children are on the receiving end of hundreds of instructions every day. Yet, many times these commands are ... read more
Reinforcement vs. Bribery
Do you struggle to provide reinforcement when your child isn’t cooperating? Parents will often ask me why they should be “giving in” to certain behaviors. Enter the reinforcement vs. bribery infographic. This is a easy way to see the differences between the two. When you use reinforcement you ... read more
Token Boards – A How to Guide
Wouldn't it be great to have a tool that uses positive reinforcement to make meaningful behavior change? Token boards do just that. They reward desired behaviors, with a series of “tokens,” which the child can then exchange for something valuable. However, before you implement a token ... read more
Using Visuals to Support Play
Visuals are a necessity when supporting children with special needs. I recently wrote a blog post for Especially Education all about the importance of using visuals in the classroom. You can read that post here. One of the most significant areas where visuals can be helpful, are in assisting ... read more
Managing Difficult Behaviors
I work with two of the best BCBAs I know. Last week we began updating a parent training that focused on managing difficult behaviors at home. We quickly got to work creating a powerpoint and a set of handouts for the parents to take home. On Friday, we got up in front of a small group of ... read more
Positive Praise and the Elf on the Shelf
Enlist your elf on the shelf and give behavior-specific praise all season long! I will admit it; I have a love/hate relationship with the elf on the shelf. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love crafty things. The elf on the shelf provides the perfect mix of creativity and magic that is so ... read more
