Consequences Unpacked Consequences – Result – Effect of Action Should be natural/logical Should be linked directly to desired child behavior Should be timely (immediate) Should not be arbitrary, threatening, or punitive Should provide feedback Always use prevention strategies Always emphasize replacement behaviors Always emphasize teaching a skill Use consequences that increase desired vs. trying to decrease undesired Consequences become the next Antecedent in a learning spiral “It is not about this time, it is about next time” Lori Lynn and Dr. Smith © 2014 Pretti-Frontczak & Grisham Brown, All Rights Reserved

Examples of Consequences (something added to strengthen) Positive Feedback - giving information about a child’s abilities and attempts to succeed (encouragement) That’s a cool way to make a zoo for the animals. You’ve done a great job starting to put all the toys put away – keep going. Descriptive Praise - using words that describe the specific behavior for which the child is being praised – avoids evaluation terms (e.g., good, well, great) You shared the blocks with your friends who are also building a zoo. You cleaned up and didn’t even need my help. Recognition and Affirmation – focusing on the process the child used to produce or act or how the child is feeling at the moment You created a zoo that can house many different animals. You put all the toys where they go. As we begin to describe different types of consequences, keep in mind, it is less important how you define them, and more important that you are clear on: which to use that they are used consistently, and that all members are clear on how and when to deliver which set of consequences. Lastly, consequences need to be identified for both (+) and (-) child responses. There are at least three broad ways to classify consequences: Positive Feedback - giving information about a child’s abilities and attempts to succeed (encouragement). For example, “That’s a cool way to make a zoo for the animals.” or, “You’ve done a great job starting to put all the toys away – keep going.” Descriptive Praise - using words that describe the specific behavior for which the child is being praised – avoids evaluation terms (e.g., good, well, great). For example, “You shared the blocks with your friends who are also building a zoo.” or “You cleaned up and didn’t even need my help.” Recognition and Affirmation – focusing on the process the child used to produce or act or how the child is feeling at the moment. For example, “You created a zoo that can house many different animals.” or “You put all the toys where they go.” Here are a few other reminders in delivering consequences that will help children learn and demonstrate individualized outcomes: All consequences should aim to be logical and/or natural; making a child aware of the automatic results of an action in a way that makes sense according to the behavior demonstrated by the child. Use Consequences to teach and to build relationships. Be consistent Be non-evaluative Be positive Be preventative Use reinforcement that is reinforcing Reinforcement, particularly when paired with the terms positive and negative, can be a confusing term. Be sure to clarify that both strengthen a behavior and really refer to the addition (positive) or subtraction (negative) of something. © 2014 Pretti-Frontczak & Grisham Brown, All Rights Reserved

Consequences Concluded All consequences (those to strengthen or those to weaken) should aim to be logical and/or natural making a child aware of the automatic results of an action acting in a way that makes sense according to the behavior demonstrated by the child Use Consequences to Teach and to Build Relationships Be consistent, be non-evaluative, be positive, be preventative Use reinforcement that is reinforcing Powerful from the child’s perspective Understandable from the child’s perspective Logical consequence to not cleaning up after a snack may be that the child’s access to the next activity is delayed. A natural consequence to leaving the tricycles out on the playground may be that they become wet and can’t be used the next day. A logical consequence that may follow throwing sand out of the sand table is that the sand table is closed so that the sand can be cleaned up. © 2015 Kristie Pretti-Frontczak, B2K SolutionsSM, Ltd. All rights reserved.

Two Ways to Strengthen or Increase Desired Behavior Reinforcement is any event that strengthens or increases the behavior it follows. There are two kinds of reinforcers: Positive reinforcers are favorable events or outcomes that are presented after the behavior. In situations that reflect positive reinforcement, a response or behavior is strengthened by the addition of something, such as praise or a direct reward. Negative reinforcers involve the removal of an unfavorable events or outcomes after the display of a behavior. In these situations, a response is strengthened by the removal of something considered unpleasant. Definitions taken directly from http://psychology.about.com/od/behavioralpsychology/a/introopcond.htm by Kendra Cherry © 2013 All Rights Reserved

Two Ways to Weaken or Decrease Undesired Behavior Punishment, on the other hand, is the presentation of an adverse event or outcome that causes a decrease in the behavior it follows. There are two kinds of punishment: Positive punishment, sometimes referred to as punishment by application, involves the presentation of an unfavorable event or outcome in order to weaken the response it follows. Negative punishment, also known as punishment by removal, occurs when an favorable event or outcome is removed after a behavior occurs. Definitions taken directly from http://psychology.about.com/od/behavioralpsychology/a/introopcond.htm by Kendra Cherry © 2013 All Rights Reserved

Positive Reinforcement (something added) Positive Feedback - giving information about a child’s abilities and attempts to succeed (encouragement) Descriptive Praise - using words that describe the behavior for which the child is being praised Recognition and Affirmation – focusing on the process the child used to produce or act or how the child is feeling at the moment Logical and/or Natural Consequences – making a child aware of the automatic results of an action acting in a way that makes sense according to the behavior demonstrated by the child Use Feedback to Teach and to Build Relationships Be consistent, be non-evaluative, be positive Ask follow up questions Use reinforcement that is reinforcing – meaning powerful and that the child can understand © 2013 All Rights Reserved

Negative Reinforcement (something subtracted) Think removal, avoidance, stopping of an adverse stimuli/situation/condition Escape – removal/stopping Avoidance – somewhat preventative Still strengthens or increases the desired behavior Still logical – often can be in the form of a choice (reminder of choice is the prevention strategy) © 2013 All Rights Reserved

Punishment Decreases behavior by adding or subtracting Examples Reprimands Scolding Talking toys away Talking privileges away Spanking Physical restraint Are often arbitrary, not directly linked to the behavior, and child may not understand the choices © 2013 All Rights Reserved

Consequences Unpacked © 2013 All Rights Reserved

How we acquire learned behaviors – Learning not to get a sunburn Reinforce- increase time spent outside without getting a sunburn Child has fun with friends outside without getting a sunburn Negative (subtract) Escape by removing child from sun and allowing them to have fun and play in a covered area Avoid by putting on sunscreen before going outside Punishment – decrease times child gets a sunburn from playing outside Positive (add) Child gets painful blisters from sunburn Teacher sends child inside for getting a sunburn. Child is not allowed to play outside with friends © 2013 All Rights Reserved