Upload
dennis-pierce
View
221
Download
0
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
’’Mind your manners’ Mind your manners’ and other pro-social behaviors in and other pro-social behaviors in
young childrenyoung children
’’Mind your manners’ Mind your manners’ and other pro-social behaviors in and other pro-social behaviors in
young childrenyoung children Gina Kunz, Ph.D.Gina Kunz, Ph.D.Licensed PsychologistLicensed Psychologist
Research Assistant Professor, UNLResearch Assistant Professor, UNL
Rachel Valleley, Ph.D.Rachel Valleley, Ph.D.Assistant Professor, Munroe Meyer InstituteAssistant Professor, Munroe Meyer Institute
Licensed PsychologistLicensed Psychologist
Mind Your Manners
What are Important Prosocial Behaviors Young Children Need to Learn?
Important Prosocial Skills
• Smiling / pleasant with others
• Polite words (“please,” “thank
you”) and polite voices (“inside voice“)
• Eye contact• Comforting
others• Sharing• Waiting turn• Help clean up• Help others• Table manners
How do young children learn prosocial skills?
• Observing others• Incidentally trying it out themselves
and good (desirable) things happening
• Structured activities
Not all children learn prosocial skills easily
• Some need structured learning opportunities– Models - “Do what I do”– Practice– Praising/motivators– Pointing out– Prompting
Rewards as Motivators• Children may not learn all prosocial
skills incidentally• Need some type of external motivator
to encourage prosocial behaviors• Rewards can fall into different
categories that are particularly appropriate for young children– Tangibles - Social Activity– Privileges - Edibles– Special time with caregiver - Escape
Common Objections to Using Tangible Rewards
• Rewarding children for good behavior is bribery
• Shouldn’t reward children for what they should already do
• Expect rewards for everything
Developing a Reward Program
1. Develop a list of potential rewards (Preference Assessment)
2. Identify target behavior to reward3. Identify frequency of
opportunities for reward (more frequent, the better)
Preference Assessments
• Before developing any incentive program, determine what the child likes by– Watching what they chose when
many options available or over time
– Pair objects together and ask which they prefer
– Have child make a list of reinforcers
• Develop list of rewards
Identify target behavior to reward
• Saying please or thank you• Sharing toys• Giving eye contact
Identify frequency of opportunities for reward
• Each time behavior is seen• Every 15 minutes• At a specified time
• Keep in mind the more frequent, the better AND setting goals that are attainable
Examples of structured reinforcement
programs
• Individual Reward programs– Grab Bags / Treasure Chests– Dot-to-dots– Magic Circle Charts
• Group Contingencies
Grab Bags• Write down list of “reinforcers” on
index card• Place in box/bag• Figure out how you will let child
know when behavior occurred– Coupons, stickers, smiley faces
• Meets specified goal = reward card
“Reinforcer” Menus: Option 1
• Set criteria for each level of behavior
• Select “reinforcers” for each level
• “Reinforcers” should be of more value to child with each level
Okay (1-3)
Sticker, Sucker, Read book
Good (4-6)
Pencils, Be line leader for the day
Great (7+)
Pick song for circle time, small toy
“Reinforcer” Menus: Option 2
• Each day give 3-5 options from big list of “reinforcers” that the child can pick from and earn that day if criteria met
Rewards Available Today
Extra outside time, 30 minutes computer, Extra treat
Behavior Charts• Magic Circle Charts
– Each time behavior is exhibited, earns a star/sticker on chart and is praised as behavior occurs
– When lands on “magic circle”, child earns incentive
– Could use for each time child shares a toy, helps clean up
Behavior Charts• Dot-to-dots
– Each time child exhibits behavior, they earn a line on chart and is praised as behavior occurs
– When completed dot-to-dot, earns reward
– Could use if trying to work on saying please/thank you, eye contact
Group Contingencies• Helpful when targeting a lot of
children at once • Select target behavior• Select how you will keep track and
let children know they did behavior• Select group reward
Ideas for Monitoring & letting children know
behavior occurred
• Marble jar• Star chart• Reinforcement tower• Coupons
Trouble Shooting Reinforcement Programs
• Access to “reinforcers” otherwise?• How often is the child successful?• Are the “reinforcers” worth the
effort?• Have “reinforcers” been faded too
quickly?
Activity• Pick a few social skills you’d like to
increase• Select a reward program to use• Set the criteria to earn reward• Determine how often reward can
be earned• Develop list of rewards