Using Consequences to Change Behavior:

• Consequences teach children to think and to learn that their actions lead to results, both positive and negative.
• There are 2 kinds of consequences-positive and negative
  • Positive consequences are things people like and are willing to work on in order to obtain. Behavior that is followed by a positive consequence is more likely to occur again.
    • rewards and privileges
      • Activities
      • Small rewards/Food
      • People
      • Attention

o Negative Consequences are things people don’t like and want to avoid. Behavior that is followed by a negative consequence is less likely to occur again.

• Taking away a privilege and adding chores
• Time out

Bribe VS Rewards

• It’s bribery when parents give consequences to stop children’s misbehavior, i.e. giving a child a candy bar when he is crying and screaming in the grocery store in order to be quiet.

Choosing a consequence:

• The consequence has to be important to the child
• Consequences are more effective if they occur immediately after the child’s behavior
• Parents should be aware of the size of the consequences and try to give the smallest consequence that will work
• link the consequence to the behavior

 Julie King, LCSW- Adult and Pediatric Counseling