Reinforcers

[Guest guest]

Hi,

Over the years our reinforcers have moved from primary (favorite snacks) to

predominantly social.

I can say this though IF the therapist is NOT reinforcing unto themselves,

there is no work accomplished, and my son goes into a total stress

breakdown. The therapist (for my type of child), must be physically

motivating, and reinforcing. He likes squeezes, and tickles, and physical

roughhousing, and touching. If the therapist is NOT reinforcing in these

areas he falls apart, and cannot focus and will eventually stress/cry etc.

Our sessions include physical play as reinforcement, and during the session

approximately mid way through each two hour session, juice and pretzels are

offered. T.V./videos would not be a good option for us. He would get so

off track from his programs that it would just be too hard to bring him

back to focus. He does, however, get 15 minutes of his video choice BETWEEN

sessions a.m. and p.m. (after working straight for two hours),and this is

his destressor.

We don't buy reinforcers any more, but did in the very beginning, and it

was very helpful. I cannot think of enough items that would be remotely

reinforcing for him at this point. He loves books, and will " read " on his

Go play breaks, and this is very rewarding to him, and self satisfying.

I think it's really important to make sure the person/people who work with

the child are self reinforcing. If the child builds a relationship with the

person, that person alone is reinforcing, and you may and hopefully should

be able to do without a lot of material items as reinforcers. If the

therapists are not reinforcing, you end up falling back on toys, doodads

etc. Observe the therapists, and make sure they are fun, and playful. My

son is very easy to read. If the therapist is nonmotivating,

nonreinforcing, he will NOT work.

Cate