Hey First Coffee Then ABA followers, first, I want to apologize for the disruption in our weekly posts!!! I have been experiencing computer issues for a while and had to get a new one. Our wifi is so terrible that it took many days to download everything and move it to the new one. So, without further delay, let’s keep this series going!!! Tonight, we are going to talk about 2 simple but effective strategies to use with your child. I call the first of these strategies “Don’t Ask if it is not a Choice.” I know this sounds silly, but we do it without even noticing. I have caught myself saying, “Can you please pick up that towel?” When what I should be saying is, “Pick up that towel.” My teenager seems to never be able to get his towel back to the bathroom and hung up unless prompted…lol. If you ask a demand in a question format, it can seem like the child has a choice whether to comply, when it is not a choice. So, instead of presenting the demand in question format, you should give it in a “command” statement. Next, let’s talk about another easy strategy. I like to call this one Clear/Specific Directions. There are so many times as a parent that I have said things like, “Stop that, put that down, etc.”, and my kids will think that they have done what I told them to do. Then, I realize they might have done part of what I told them to do, or I will ask them why they didn’t do what I told them to only to realize that I was not clear in what I told them. Let me give an example, I told my son to put something up, and he did. He put it on his dresser. I wanted him to put that up in the drawer, but I didn’t make that clear. I began fussing at him because I thought he was being stubborn and not following directions only to realize that I had not been clear. I should have told him to put the socks in the drawer. These strategies seem very simple and they are, but they are also very effective. These simple strategies have the ability to minimize conflict in your home and increase compliance in your child. I hope that you find these to be beneficial for your home and child!!! Below you will see a visual to help with these strategies. I will be adding more strategies as our series continues. At the end of the series, I will put the finished product on the teachers pay teachers site as a free download. Next week, we will discuss another strategy to build compliance as we continue our Building Compliance Series!! With Love, Kimberly W.
First Coffee Then ABA 