Positively reinforcing your child’s behaviour is a key component to increasing behaviours we want to see more often. Here are some tips for providing verbal reinforcement effectively:

• Make it specific. When you are reinforcing a behaviour make it specific to that person and to the action you are seeing. For example, “I like the way you listened Caleb!”
• Make it immediate. Positive reinforcement is most effective when it is provided immediately following the behaviour.
• Use it often. To increase a behaviour we want to see more often we need to reinforce the behaviour as often as possible. You may feel as though you are over doing it but you are conveying the message to your child that they are doing something you like.
• On occasion pair the verbal reinforcement with non-verbal communication such as a high five, thumbs up, a big smile etc.
• Vary the statements you use. For example, “Great Job!” “Awesome!” “Good Work!”