This Behavior Modification strategy enables the
child to know the expectations for his/her behavior and helps you to maintain
consistent positive/negative reinforcement.
Short,
Soft and Close: Delivering Effective Reprimands
There are three key parts of an effective reprimand;
short, soft, and close. When used
correctly, reprimands can serve to alter behavior without encountering an angry
confrontation.
• Short—The reprimand should consist of
the child’s name and one or two additional
words of direction such as, “Mike,
stop yelling.”
• Soft—The reprimand should be audible
only to the child. This serves to keep
the
adults’ emotions in check and helps to
lower the dynamic of the confrontation.
• Close—The reprimand should be delivered
from within a few feet of the child,
preferably within reach of the
child. A soft touch on the arm or
shoulder will prove
to make the reprimand much more
effective than will shouting it from the next
room.
The child will have your full attention and will be more likely to stop
the
targeted behavior.
Finally, after the reprimand is delivered and the
targeted behavior has stopped, try to catch the child doing something good
within the next few minutes. Praise
him/her for positive behavior in order to reinforce desired, appropriate
behavior.
Working with children produces greater effects when
we build on the positives and not the negatives. Children are eager to please, yet adults
often only point out when a child has misbehaved. Children with ODD are used to hearing about
all of their negative characteristics.
By creating as many opportunities for positive reinforcement as
possible, we set up ways for the child to experience the positive feelings
associated with cooperation and praise. As
a general rule, each day children should hear more positive than negative
comments about themselves.
Arnold, D. S., O'Leary, S. G., Wolff, L. S.,
& Acker, M. M. (1993). The Parenting Scale: A measure of dysfunctional
parenting in discipline situations.Psychological assessment, 5(2), 137.
O'Leary, D. K., Kaufman, K. F., Kass, R. E., & Drabbman, R. S.
(1970). The effects of loud and soft reprimands on the behavior of
disruptive students. Exceptional Children, 2, 145-155.
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