Positive Reinforcement for Children Essay

From a very early age, children begin to canvass about the standstill between ways and consequences. They realize that there is always going to be a consequence whether itd be positive or veto, that would follow the behavior. almost fourth dimensions children behave very well and or so of the time, children tend to hold parents and others around them a hard time. When it comes to behavior modification, some basic steps include identifying the behavior, setting expectations, observe progress, and reinforcing correct behaviors. Positive backing has a lot of effect on children when it comes to modifying a tar imbibeed behavior. A reinforcer, which butt be either positive or negative, is defined as an event, stimulus, or condition that, when presented immediately pursuit a behavior ca drops an summation in frequency of the behavior (Martin, G., & Pear, J., 2011 p 32).Positive Reinforcement for Children on that point are various opinions c at oncerning the value of positive re inforcement when discussing modifying behaviors of young children (Sigler, E., & Aamidor, S., 1990). Children pass on always need steering in ingenuous behavior, and it is a parents duty to provide this guidance. Parents can model trade good behavior and discuss with their children what constitutes good behavior, but it is helping children act on their own that go away brook them to understand what is appropriate and what is non in a variety of situations.Everyone sames to be praised and children are no different. When children discover good behavior, parents should acknowledge their actions by congratulating their children on their decisions. Such positive reinforcements everyow children to connect that what they did has do their parents happy, and and so was the correct choice. For example, when a child puts his toys away without being asked, having a parent say Well through with(p) and braggy him a cuddle give help him connect that putting toys away is a good decis ion. However, parents should not confuse positive reinforcement with bribery. There is definitely a difference between a vantage and a bribe. If you have specific expectations for a child, such as acquiring their home nominate through with(p) before playtime or cleaning their room up each evening, you should never offer bribes to reduce them to do these matters. They need to learn that it is their responsibility to do these things.However, if your child does something exceptionally well, such as getting a good grade on a particularly hard test, then you should celebrate and reward their achievements. This will help the child learn that there are certain things that are simply pass judgment of them, but that going above and beyond has its own rewards. Children should be not be offered rewards in the hopes that they will act in a certain manner, and positive consequences should never be offered before a behavior is carried out. If it is, then parents cannot know for sure whether a child acted a certain way because it was the right thing to do or because he was told to act a certain way and promised a prize for doing so.It is essential, previous to any discussion concerning modification of behaviors, to differentiate between praise and positive reinforcement. In the most classic definition, positive reinforcement is a method of identifying to children which behaviors are acceptable and appropriate and which are not. more(prenominal) specifically, the use of positive reinforcement is the act of identifying and encouraging a behavior, with the hopes that the want behavior will increase (Burden, 2003). The theory is that any behavior followed by a pleasant stimulus is likely to be restate (Westen, 1999).This pleasant stimulus can be anything nice and can also include a phalanx of other positive responses (Alberto & Troutman, 1990). There are several different ways to use positive reinforcement. At the basic level, you can consider the use of natural reinfo rcement, social reinforcement, token reinforcement, and tangible reinforcement. All of these intend delivering a specific consequence following a desired behavior that increases the likelihood that the behavior will continue or increase in the future.Although praise is one of many forms of positive reinforcement, it is by no means the only or even the best choice when working with young children. Educators a good deal use praise interchangeably with positive reinforcement when indeed an important distinction mustiness be made between the two (Strain & Joseph, 2004). Consistency is very important when interacting with a child. One must stick to the rules once theyve been made, and dont allow the child to do something one day and then not permit them do it the next. Dont confuse a child with unimportant decisions, and remember that its often necessary to tell a child something more than one time. Speak clearly, and make sure that what youve tell is understood. Above all, always ma intain a positive attitude, because its a sure bet that they will be imitating you.Children look to adults, parents, and teachers for approval in order to confirm that the behaviors they are exhibiting are ones that are desired (Lawhon & Lawhon, 2000). By acknowledging the childs behavior as appropriate we teach the child which behaviors are pet over others (Bukatko & Daehler, 2001).As primitive as it may seem, most small children behave in a rather random manner repeating behaviors that get a desired or positive reaction. Some children, by chance or intuition, behave in an appropriate manner and some do not. If their reinforcement is charge at all costs, then whatever attention given, even if directed toward a negative behavior, will increase the likelihood that behavior will be repeated (Sternberg, 1998). materialization children are egocentric. Young children, especially under the age of four, have a very difficult time understanding how individual else feels (McDevitt & Ormro d, 2002). This doesnt mean that kids are plain selfish but simply that their cognitive development is not sophisticated enough to understand their own emotions, much less someone elses. They are unable to comeback the perspective of someone else and understand anothers feelings (Leong & Bodrova, 2003). As children get older they begin to learn what pleases others, but it is a gradual process that takes time (Swick, 2001).Positive reinforcement doesnt suddenly work over night you need to grasp the childs mind into thinking if I do what I am told I will get a treat. The first week or so may be a trivial unstable, youll find the child demanding treats or most of all once they have their treat they become disobedient. All you need to do is give a little understanding on the issue if youre nasty you wont get any more treats. Never give into your disciplined parenting, your child will kick, cry and scream waiting for you to give in so dont show them any signs of cracking, the second you give in they are in control and the ladder is then twice as harder to climb to the top.People tend to wonder from time to time, if positive reinforcement is truly effective. There are four key elements to positive reinforcement that must be emphasized.1. Reinforcement serves to increase a desired behavior, while the goal of punishment is to decrease an unsought behavior (Jackson & Panyan, 2002). It is important to acknowledge that adults have a keen understanding that an undesirable behavior has an opposing desirable one. 2. There is a phenomenon known as extinction burst (Ormrod, 1999). This is the rapid production of a behavior once the reinforcement is taken away. 3. It is important to identify positive reinforcers that are easily and speedily attainable. Giving stickers or candy is not always feasible or desirable. That is why positive attention itself is sometimes the best choice. 4. Ignoring unwanted behaviors is a key, but it is essential to stop dangerous or pestilentia l behaviors immediately.To sum it all up, It is true that when a child is engaged in a creative activity, like drawing or painting, if you indicate, I like the color blue you are using, you will indeed get an entire page of the color blue. The important point is to understand why that would elapse (Sigler, E., & Aamidor, S., 1990). This does not happen because the child sees value in his/ her own activities or because the child is dependent on an adults approval. In fact, this happens because what was said to the child pleased him/her and the child wants to be a part of the life and the activities that entertain you. But when it comes to everyday behaviors in aversive situations that need to be modified it is better to positively reinforce.The childly rule is whatever you attend to is what you get. If you reinforce good behavior (whatever is desirable in your eyes) by giving praise and other kinds of positive attention, children will deliver more good behavior.