Motivation

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

In my estimation, the child that you are describing- passive, uninterested and

willing to wait without frustration is in many cases the most difficult to work

with. Escpecially if you are working with a child on a short duration basis,

such as an hour a day.

Children like this can usually wait out an hour with you to be left free to do

what they want on their own time in their own way.

There are a couple strategies you can consider. First begin watching the

child outside of your therapy hours. What is she most motivated to be doing?

Does she spend most of her time on a swing, watching videos? staring out

windows? walking around in patterns, sliding items under doors, or putting

objects into patterns?

All of these are behaviors of interest we find with many children who are not

interested in typical reinforcing objects. Once identified, can you find a way

to use these activities as reinforcement. For instance if she has a baby buggy

that the child likes pushing around a couch, let her push it for a while until

she gets to really enjoy it. Then just pick two places along her normal route

that you can stand in front of her and give her a simple instruction to follow.

Something basic and easy. As soon as you prompt her through this easy

instruction send her on her way again. When she gets to the next stopping

place, repeat the procedure and begin fading your prompts as she becomes more

willing to help. Then, when she is willing to participate in these simple

directions you can begin to change your instructions more toward your goals.

Just realize with a child like this your number one goal is to evoke

participation in anything. Don't start focusing on learning goals until

you have this participation goal met first.

If you cannot find patterns in her play that can be used as teaching settings,

look at her stims. What is a " sensory need " that she seems to be fulfilling for

herself.

If she has several stims, try to figure out what she finds stimulating about

those specific behaviors and find a way to increase the pleasure of them with

your involvement.

Ex. She loves bouncing up and down on a sofa cushion. Can you hold her hands

and bounce her a little higher? can you bring in a more bouncy object for her to

bounce on like a giant gym ball or a mini trampoline. Once you can show her

that this activity of hers is more fun with you than it is alone you can begin

to use the simple instructions from above to begin developing participation.

Another option is to begin identifying stim toys that have specific

characteristics of things she likes to stim on. There is a website we use here

in Germany that has about a hundred of these reinforcing objects. They are

called " verstarker speilzeug " (reinforcing toys) and with enough of these in our

posession we can usually find something that captures the childs attention and

eventually willingness to work.

To look at these toys either for order or just to get an idea of what to look

for go to www.pro-aba.de (you can email them for info in English).

Bottom line, there is always a way to reach every child, it only takes time,

effort and a willingness to never give up.

I think the best answer to the most important question in the world is:

Q: How do you make a child smile?

A: Keep trying stuff until he does.

Hope this helps,

Dodson <starlene@...> wrote: Hello all,

I am a speech therapist and new to this group. I need help with a child recently

diagnosed with autism (2 1/2 year old little boy, seen in the home). Although we

have not formally started an official behavioral program, his OT and I are doing

some simple simple behavior based intervention trials to see how he will do. Our

problem is that this child is motivated by nothing. He tunes in and out to us

throughout the session, really does not get frustrated much at all and could

care less about any and all reinforcers we have tried.

Anyone have any insight on this? We would truly appreciate the help!

Thanks,

[Guest guest]

Hi,

You bring up an excellent point. Tom Caffrey is fantastic! As are all

involved in the Verbal Behavior Network! The things I have seen them do (on

video) is just amazing. Every time I see a video at one of their workshops

I just about cry when I see footage of " Jimmy " (the boy I believe you were

referring to) before and after. Pairing and Manding are SOOO important.

These things have the power to change a child's life when done correctly and

when demands are kept very low to start until a relationship has been

established.

Best,

ann