Whether you are traveling by car, train, or airplane, you will have to plan on keeping your little ones happy!
How do I do that?
Tag Archives: behavior
4 Things That Can Keep Children From Completing a Task
Many toddlers and preschoolers struggle with appropriate play or completing an age appropriate task on their own.
Here are some things that may keep them from completing the task:
- not understanding the directions or what is expected of them
- not having the attention to complete the task
- needing assistance with a motor component of the task
- having a sensory concern that interrupts the completion of the task
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8 Reasons to Give Your Young Child Choices
Why Should I Give Choices?
- Choice making is a part of problem solving. When we make choices, we are building a base for further decision making and problem solving.
- Providing opportunities for children to make a choice boosts cooperation and engagement. You are asking for their joint attention and social involvement. These are great skills to practice for communication.
- Choice making is great for behavior management. Giving young children choices between two objects gives them some control within their environments. It is important for children to have some control but not all of the control.
- We are modeling language when we label items for choice making. This helps with receptive language. Your child hears you say or sees you sign the word for each item every time you give the choice.
- This is great for expressive language. It gives you the opportunity to have your child repeat the word in imitation.
- Boost pointing and gesturing skills.
- Making choices will give your child practice at answering questions.
- When we provide opportunities for young children to make choices, we are giving them a voice. We are showing our children that we are interested in what they have to say, whether it is verbal or through gestures and signs.
What should I do?
Reinforcers: More Than Just Lollipops and Bubbles
When most of us think of reinforcers, we think of things like candy, high fives, and bubbles. Obviously those things are only reinforcing to people if they enjoy those things. 
It’s interesting to observe children because we see at a very young age what is and isn’t reinforcing. When the baby spits food back into your face, I think it’s clear that either it’s really reinforcing to see your reaction, it feels good, or it tastes or feels really awful.
On my very first session with families I ask what is reinforcing to their child. Sometimes families are quick to respond with: his truck, cookies, or playing outside. Those things can definitely be reinforcing to your child but there are so many other things that can also be reinforcing that you may not have thought of.