Non-Compliant Behavior Parent’s and teachers alike agree that one of the most frustrating behavior problems to address with children is non-compliance.

What is Non-Compliance? Put simply, non-compliance is an Put simply, non-compliance is an unwillingness to follow through with a unwillingness to follow through with a directive given by another person. On directive given by another person. On many occasions the person giving the many occasions the person giving the directive is a person in a position of directive is a person in a position of authority. authority.

What causes Non-Compliance? Many things can cause a child to exhibit non-compliant behavior, but the three most common causes would be: 1. Young children may be going through a developmental phase where they are exercising their autonomy, and testing the authority of adults. 2. Some children have a history of poor relationships with adults and do to resentment feel they don’t have to comply with adults requests. 3. Sometimes adults fail to consistently make children follow through with directives early on, and the child learns they don’t necessarily have to comply.

How do we address non- compliance? We address non-compliance by teaching children to be compliant. We can teach compliance using a method called Errorless Compliance Training.

Compliance Training Getting Started Compliance Training Getting Started With paper and pen sit down and think about the child’s behavior. With paper and pen sit down and think about the child’s behavior. 1. Make a list of 4-5 things that the child will do for you without question when asked. This could be things such as: give you a hug, retrieve a fork or spoon, get you some milk out of the refrigerator. We will call these “high probability requests” 2. Make a second list of 4-5 things the child will do for you, but typically result in whining, fussing, repeated prodding. This could be things such as brushing teeth, getting clothes ready for tomorrow, going to bed on time. We will call these “moderate probability requests”.

Compliance Training Getting Started Now make a third list of 4-5 things that you know the child will not do, regardless of how many times you ask, beg, or plead. These could include, cleaning the bedroom, doing homework, taking out the trash, doing laundry, coming home on time. We will call these “low probability requests”.

Compliance Training Getting Started Take your list of high probability requests, and over the next week ask the child frequently throughout the day to complete some of those tasks. Make your request and promptly walk away. *Make sure you have the child’s attention when making your request (turned toward you, making eye contact, and listening). It is critical that when you ask the child to do something that you ask in a firm, but polite manner. If the child complies with your directive, immediately give the child lots of praise and attention for complying.

Compliance Training Getting Started. If the child fails to comply with your request, do not immediately make the same request again, as this could lead to a power struggle between yourself and the child, which could escalate into an argument. Wait awhile (15 to 20 minutes) then approach the child and make a request to do a different high probability task. If the child complies, provide praise and attention immediately. Wait awhile, and then request that they do the task they did not follow through with previously.

Compliance Training Getting Started The following week continue throughout the day to frequently make high probability requests of the child. However, on occasion ask the child to do a task from your moderate probability list. If they comply, provide immediate praise and attention for complying. If they fail to comply follow the steps detailed on the previous slide.

Compliance Training Getting Started. During the second week continue to mix high and moderate level requests. On the third week continue with high and moderate level requests, but occasionally sneak in a Low Probability request. If the child complies, immediately provide lots of praise and attention, tell them how proud you are of them.

Compliance Training Getting Started If the student fails to comply with the Low Probability request, follow the steps described in the previous slides. i.e., back off for a period of time and return to Moderate or Low Probability requests.

Compliance Training Getting Started If the methods described in this training are implemented correctly and consistently everyday, you should see a significant change in the child’s level of compliance within a month. Remember that you will need to provide numerous opportunities throughout the day to train compliance. Three or four times per day is not sufficient to change a behavior that has become ingrained over time.

Compliance Training Getting Started Why do we need to teach compliance? Why do we need to teach compliance? Simply, over the course of a child’s lifetime they will be asked thousands of times to do things they may not want to do. By teaching children compliance at an early age, we are arming them with a valuable skill that will be of great benefit to them throughout adulthood.