1
REINFORCEMENT METHODS
Reinforcement Methods:
Positive and Negative
Full Name
Name of Institution
Childhood is a time of growth and development. As children pass from infancy to toddlerhood, early childhood, and then later stages of childhood, they are forming their concept of life. They are forming habits, and learning how to behave. As young children have not yet reached the age of reason, which usually begins around the age of seven (Brodkin, 2006), their actions are heavily influenced by the consequences and responses they elicit. As a result, the presence and guidance of parents and educators takes on an essential role in the life of young children, and helps define the children’s patterns of behaviors and habits. Reinforcements are common means that can be used in forming and guiding young children. A reinforcement can be defined as “a consequence that follows an operant response that increases (or attempts to increase) the likelihood of that response occurring in the future” (Reinforcement, 2010). Many forms of reinforcement help guide children to right behavioral tendencies and habits. The different reinforcements can be grouped based on their positive or negative value. Positive reinforcements include intrinsic reinforcement, positive reinforcement, and praising or rewarding a child when catching them behaving well, or favoring the better of two incompatible behaviors. Negative reinforcements include natural consequences, withdrawal of something desired, reprimands, the sit and watch method and the time out method.
Positive Reinforcements
Intrinsic impulse is feeling pleasure and personal satisfaction from accomplishing a task or trying something new. An example of this would be a toddler who puts on her shoes for the first time and feels a sense of accomplishment.
Positive reinforcement is a positive reaction that leads to increased response of a particular behavior. An example of this would be clapping your hands after a child has sat on the potty. Praise and affirmation is another form of positive reinforcement.
Incompatible behaviors are two behaviors that cannot occur at the same time together. A child cannot sit quietly and stand up at the same time. Attention should be given to the children who are sitting quietly, if this is the desired action.
To catch a child being good means to notice and reward that child for an appropriate behavior that the child has taken on unprompted by someone else. More focus and attention should be placed on the child who is behaving well than on a child misbehaving, as excessive attention can spur misbehavior. Rewards should be given to children who are “caught being good,” or doing appropriate behavior.
Negative Reinforcements
The concept of negative reinforcement involves the removal of an unpleasant consequence. A child who is nagged to take out the garbage and then does it to simply avoid being nagged is an example of negative reinforcement.
Natural consequences are consequences that occur without intervention from parents or teachers. They are consequences that occur all on their own. An example of a natural consequence would be if a child leaves the caps off the markers. The markers dry out and the child will no longer be able to use the markers to color.
Withholding or withdraw and reinforcement involves taking something away. An example of withdrawn or withholding reinforcements would include taking a toy away from a child who's been misusing it. Another example would be ignoring a child who is doing something negative just to gain attention. By withdrawing attention, the parent reinforces in the child’s mind that misbehaving will not bring about desired consequences.
Reminder or redirection and reprimands are often very effective for small children, infants and toddlers. A short, sharp “NO” given at eye level as a toddler pulls on the dogs ears is effective in an effective way of reinforcing in that child’s mind not to repeat the behavior.
The sit and watch method involves having a child sit off to the side and watch the other children lay appropriately. This could involve having a child sit outside circle time in watching other children participate in circle time. This technique teaches a child what constitutes appropriate behavior by having them witness it in their peers. After a few brief minutes the child should be allowed to return to the activity and try again, provided that he/she has read and stated what the appropriate or corrected behavior must be.
Finally, time out refers to the removal of all reinforcement, including attention materials playmates and equipment. It is considered a last resort technique and should only be used for seriously inappropriate behaviors. Placing a child in a corner for three minutes is an example of timeout.
Conclusion
All of these forms of reinforcement make an impression on the child’s mind and memory, thus either encouraging good behavior to be repeated, or discouraging bad behavior from being repeated. Throughout the child’s day, a combination of both positive and negative methods of reinforcement will be needed, to respond adequately to the different situations that arise. Whenever possible, however, more emphasis should be placed on positive reinforcement and rewarding positive behavior, as this is a more productive approach. Negative reinforcement helps prevent misbehavior, but does not help the child develop in a constructive manner. Positive reinforcement, on the other hand, helps the child know what to do, in addition to what not to do, and thus fosters a healthy sense of freedom and goodness.
References
Brodkin, Adele. (2006). The age of reason. Scholastic. Retrieved from
Reinforcement. (2010). University of Iowa. Retrieved from