Positive Reinforcement Part one: What is Positive Reinforcement and how do we use it?

I’m sure you have all heard abut this thing called “positive reinforcement”. It is used all the time in popular tv shows, parenting classes, newspaper articles. Its one of those concepts we hear about all the time without really giving it much thought!

However, positive reinforcement is the most important principle of any ABA program. When interacting with our learners our focus is to provide constant and consistent positive reinforcement.

Positive reinforcement is anything that we can add to a behaviour to increase the probility that that behaviour will happen again in the future.

Reinforcers are individual and specific to the learner. One person’s reinforcement can be aversive to somebody else! Example of reinforcers can be cause and effect toys, music, a fun YouTube video, cars and trains, books, even social engagement activities such as social games can be reinforcing and sometime sit can be relaxing on the couch!

During our time with a learner our focus is to add positive reinforcers to the behaviours that we are teaching.

That makes reinforcement the most important part of every therapy session and the most important tool in your ABA toolbox😊