1. Providing Praise & Offering Choices
Accentuating the positive potential of PBS
Authored by: Zachary Tucker and Cynthia Olson

2. Praise
Life is full of challenges for all of us, and it can be easy to despair when success seems impossible, or when the successes we have achieved go unnoticed and unsung.
The role of providing praise within PBS calls us to take every opportunity to highlight a person’s success with encouragement and positivity.

3. Providing Praise: Why should we do it?
Boosts self-image and self-esteem
Increases a person’s desire to please and succeed
Builds closer relationships, encourages better trust and communication
Nurtures an internal desire to try and keep trying
Increases a person’s ability to handle difficult times, and then bounce back from them
Keeps people engaged and invested in their environment, as well as the relationships they have within it
Positivity, like respect, is a two way street. The more you give the more you get

4. Providing Praise: When should we do it?
When you want to improve trust and build a relationship with someone
When a person steps out of their comfort zone or takes a risk
When a person is frustrated, or stuck
When a person is having personal difficulty, needs encouragement, or is feeling insecure
When a person succeeds, overcomes, persists, or otherwise achieves a goal
When a person is using coping skills or problem solving skills
When a person is independent or takes the initiative

5. Providing Praise: How should we do it?
When delivering praise, your body language should match the positivity of your message, and the praise should be personalized and specific to an individual’s experience
When an opportunity to provide positive praise presents itself, support can be given in the form of encouragement, verbal praise, a pat on the back, a high-five, etc.
Praise can be given in a variety of ways, depending on personal preference. Some people enjoy being recognized publicly, while others may prefer a quieter one to one setting.
Praise, according to research, should be given in a ratio of at least 4 praises to 1 criticism

6. Choices
The freedom to make independent decisions concerning the course of one’s life is a basic human right that is often taken for granted Many of the individuals we serve either require assistance in their decision making process, or need their decisions made for them. Such a lack of autonomy can lead to frustration and a sense of powerlessness Whenever a situation in which a person is capable of communicating a preference presents itself, it should be taken as an opportunity to empower while building a positive rapport and gaining greater insight into an individuals personality

7. Offering Choices: Why should we do it?
Decreases opposition and refusal
Builds rapport and communication
Increases engagement and enthusiasm
Leads to new interests and a richer life experience
Important form of empowerment
Prevents power struggles
Improved coping when performing an undesired task

8. Offering Choices: When should we do it?
When asking someone to do something
When a person is having a difficult time making a decision
When giving consequences
When giving rewards
When a person is argumentative
Anytime a person’s opinion can be considered

9. Offering Choices: How should we do it?
Offer choices that introduce new experiences and opportunities, as well as established interests
Only give choices you will fully accept
Making choices should be part of every person’s daily life

10. Praise and Choices
Positive praise builds positive relationships, and promotes good self-esteem as well as confidence. There are many opportunities to provide praise throughout the day, such as when a person is frustrated, trying something new, using coping skills, or finding success
Offering choices decreases opposition by preventing power struggles, while empowering people to make decisions in their lives. This also provides a way for people to explore new experiences and opportunities. Choices can be useful when communicating rewards or consequences. Any time a person’s preference could be considered it should be.