Use Positive Reinforcement to Improve Your Child’s Behaviour

Positive reinforcement can be a valuable technique to modify your child’s behaviour for the better. Continue reading to learn how you can use positive reinforcement.

Reinforce Positive Behaviour Through Rewards

Finishing their chores on time, working hard or putting in a lot of effort in their tasks, obeying their elders, not fighting with their siblings, etc. are all examples of positive behaviours that parents look for in their children.

You can reward your child with either tangible or intangible incentives when they behave. However, this does not mean that you reward them every single time they finish their task in a given time or listen to you when you tell them to do something. You should space out your rewards once your child starts to exhibit the behaviours that you want them to, so not to diminish the value of the rewards.

Praise the Effort, Not the Outcome

Not every child can perform difficult tasks in the first attempt. They may fail at one point or another. Rewarding them for attempting the task means they are more likely to try again than give up. This will motivate your child to embrace the journey as much as the final result.

Avoid Reinforcing Negative Behaviours

Sometimes, children’s negative behaviour can be positively reinforced. This may be detrimental to their personality. For example, your child constantly begs you to let them go outside to play, and after their continuous whining, you eventually give in. Your child’s negative behaviour – whining – is positively reinforced.

Try not to reinforce your child’s negative behaviour positively. Instead, explain to them why they are not allowed to do what they like in that instance but when they will be allowed to in the future.

Positive reinforcement is a great way to instil good habits in your children.