Behavioral Interventions and Solutions
As summer starts to get underway, so do the cries of boredom. Summertime activities don’t have to be complicated or expensive. Sometimes it just takes a little bit of creative thinking, and you can turn your backyard into a beach, drive-in movie theater, or ice cream shop. One of my favorite things to do is to create a bucket list… Read More
You might be wondering why behavior-specific praise is a topic I often discuss? Well, it happens to be one of the CHEAPEST and MOST EFFECTIVE strategies in your positive reinforcement toolbox? Do you find that saying “good job” all the time feels dull and insincere? All you need are a few key components, and you can step up your praise… Read More
Do you use the 4:1 ratio when giving praise? According to Aubrey Daniels, “By definition, the 4:1 ratio is four positives to one negative. What many don’t understand is that in order to shape the behavior you want, you must provide enough positive reinforcement for that behavior to become consistent. This is a great tool to use in business, sports,… Read More
Have you ever felt if you could just understand your child (or student’s) challenging behavior, you’d be better able to help them? The ABCs of behavior (also known as the three-term contingency) is one of the easiest ways to discover why a challenging behavior is occurring. What does A-B-C stand for? The ABC in a three-term contingency stands for antecedent, behavior,… Read More
I am here to tell you that Boom Cards™, are changing the way I look helping students access learning materials. As a BCBA in a public-school setting, I typically work hand in hand with the special educators on my team. Together we make plans for how to best adapt learning materials for students, modify teaching programs to match IEP objectives,… Read More
Shaping When you shape a behavior you provide reinforcement for behaviors that are incrementally closer to the targeted behavior. In other words, you reinforce the “baby steps” when teaching a new skill or behavior. If you decided you wanted to run a 5K, but have never run a day in your life (and in fact, you seriously regret signing up.)… Read More
Do your children typically display “better behavior” on days with structured activities? For many, free time is not productive. Young children do not have the ability to be self-directed. Unstructured time leads to statements of boredom, extra snack requests, and may even result in challenging behavior. By now, many of us have been home, engaging in social isolation, for approximately… Read More
It has been about a week since our lives drastically changed. Without much notice, many of you found yourself thrust into working from home, while simultaneously homeschooling your children. Like others, I assume you feel pulled in two directions. Families everywhere are in a similar position, trying to conduct Zoom meetings and meet deadlines while also trying to keep their… Read More
Does your child or student benefit from repetition, or are they typically more successful when work activities look “fun”? Interactive books are just the thing you need! An interactive book is a great way to teach and practice basic skills. These books feature 16 pre-academic and fine-motor tasks. Use interactive books to keep your children or students actively engaged in… Read More
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 dreaded power struggles. With controlled choices, children are given… Read More
