FIND OUT ABOUT A TECHNIQUE THAT REWARDS GOOD BEHAVIOR AND CAN CHANGE YOUR CHILD’S LIFE BY HELPING THEM REACH TARGET BEHAVIOR GOALS.

By Rachael BEST

You want your child to make their bed in the morning and brush their teeth before bedtime. How do you go about it? You could remind them every day or take away their privileges. But all that is too much effort, and it could accomplish the exact opposite of what you want. Why not try differential reinforcement?

But what exactly is differential reinforcement? In this article, we’ll explore how this technique can transform the life of your child and the immense potential it has for individuals with autism and their families, all by simply rewarding good behavior.

What is differential reinforcement in autism?

Differential Reinforcement reward the child reward rewards just the suitable action while leaving out every opposite action or behavior. A fundamental principle of differential reinforcement is the idea of omission. The omission is created by deciding when reinforcement is deserved or not deserved. This is how you reward the child for making their bed and withhold the when they don’t.

According to a research study published in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, differential reinforcement helps children with autism improve their social skills, communication, functional play, school readiness, and adaptive skills. Negative behaviors are not reinforced. Therefore, the child might seek alternative target behavior over time.