4.
STEPS TO SHAPING UP POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR
Re-training
behaviour patterns or behaviour modification involves several
clear steps:
Step
1:
Define
the desirable or undesirable behaviours specifically. Before
you can shape behaviour, it is critical to clearly know
exactly what behaviours you want and what behaviours you
don't want.
Step
2:
Establish
a baseline period of how often either negative or positive
behaviour occurs. Take some time (a week to a month to keep
a log on how many times a behaviour occurs). For example,
if the desired behaviour is getting homework done before
the child or teen goes out of the house, keep a log on how
many times that occurs during the baseline period. Doing
this will allow you to know whether your interventions are
effective.
Step
3:
Communicate
rules and expectations clearly. Establishing clear, written
rules and expectations is the next step in effective behaviour
modification. These rules need to give direction towards
the child's behaviour. When the child knows what is expected,
he or she is much more likely to be able to give it. Too
often parents believe that children should know how to act
without the rules being clearly communicated to them.
Children
respond to symbols of rules in the environment (traffic
signals, posted rules at the pool, etc.) Written rules have
power! They let children know what is expected of them in
a clear way. They keep the standards of good behaviour unambiguous
and serve as a touch point for clear unemotional consequences.
Here
is the set of rules that I have found helpful, both for
my own household and for my patients. Post them up where
the family can see them every day. <SEE
MORE>
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