REINFORCEMENT

WHAT IS REINFORCEMENT?
Reinforcement is a procedure implemented in order to increase the chances
that your child will repeat the desired task/behaviour being taught again in
the future.
WHAT IS POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT?
Positive reinforcement means that the child receives feedback and
motivation from the individual teaching them. Positive reinforcement acts as
a signal to the child that he/she has behaved appropriately. It strengthens
the learned task/behaviour by encouraging them to behave that way again in
the future.
WHAT IS DIFFERENTIAL REINFORCEMENT?
Differential reinforcement is a method of reinforcement that changes the
quality or quantity of the reinforcer(s) provided to the child based on their
performance throughout the teaching session.
WHEN TO USE DIFFERENTIAL REINFORCEMENT:
Differential reinforcement, when you provide more of a reinforcer or
a more preferred reinforcer, is used when your child has put forth:

Great effort
His best effort
A very well executed skill or response
A new correct response they have never previously achieved
independently.

EXAMPLES:
For significant effort, you may provide your child with 5 gummy
bears instead of 1 or 2 gummy bears.
For great execution of a succession of skills, you may provide your
child with music and an activity such as jumping on the
trampoline.
For a new, independent correct response, you may provide your
child with a significant amount of praise along with the iPad to

watch their favourite cartoon and a few pieces of their favourite

candy.
Differential reinforcement, when you provide less of a reinforcer or
a less preferred reinforce, is used when:

Your child has been corrected for a wrong response, or

Your child does not put forth their typical effort towards learning.

EXAMPLES:
For an incorrect response that has been corrected, you may
provide your child with only a small amount of a candy they like
(but not their favourite).
For a corrected response, you may provide your child with the
iPad showing a less preferred cartoon.
When your child does not put forth their typical work effort, you
may reinforce your child with music on the iPad without an activity
or vice versa.

RUN-THROUGH OF SKILLS EXAMPLE:

Parent: Place Dora on the sidewalk.

Child: Child takes Dora and places her on the sidewalk.
Parent: What does Dora do first?
Child: Child takes the finger figure and places it on the photo box with the
picture of the crosswalk button.
Parent: Provides REINFORCEMENT IMMEDIATELY upon child getting the
correct response.

Since all the childs responses were correct, you are going to give the
child VERBAL PRAISE (e.g., Amazing job, Johnny! or Excellent
work!) and REINFORCERS, which he/she highly prefers (e.g., a candy
plus a game on the iPad, or music and jumping on the trampoline.)