First… we were never a big “screen” family…. but we don’t shy away from screens, either. Our kids had Kindles but they were only brought out for long road or plane trips. They were occasionally allowed to play some games on our phones. And we love movies enough to watch one as a family before […]
behavior
The Truth About Negative Reinforcement
When you hear the term Negative Reinforcement, what do you think? What does that mean to you? Does the term ‘negative’ immediately make you think ‘bad?’ If it does, you’re definitely NOT alone. Negative Reinforcement is often used as a way to say that ‘bad’ behavior is being reinforced: “We have to make sure we’re […]
How We Avoid Punishing Our Children
I often see comments in gentle parenting boards asking, “If you don’t punish, what do you do?” Or, “There are definitely circumstances where punishments are necessary, right?” As a BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst), I frequently have to hold back from defining the term ‘punishment’ because I know that’s not exactly what folks mean. I […]
Give Your Energy to the Behavior You Want to See
A friend of mine, who also happens to be a Marriage and Family Counselor and BCBA, often gave what I considered a fantastic speech during trainings we used to do together. He would ask our audience during which scenario more energy was being displayed. Then he would dramatically shout something like the following: “What are […]