How Does Behavior Modification Work?

Modifying Behavior

• Behavior modification uses positive encouragement to help a child learn how to make better decisions about behaviors and actions. Goals of behavior modification involve both increasing desired behavior and decreasing undesired behavior, states assistant professor of psychiatry Erlanger Turner, writing for "Psychology Today." Examining what leads your child to misbehave, how she typically acts out and what usually happens after the misbehavior, can help you use negative and positive consequences to reshape your child's behavior.

Establishing Expectations

• For a child to act in the way you desire, the youngster needs to clearly understand your expectations. Before you can use behavioral modification techniques, make sure your child knows how you want him to behave, advises the American Academy of Pediatrics on their website, HealthyChildren.org. Explain the family rules and guidelines for conduct carefully and enforce the rules consistently so your child learns and trusts the expectations. For example, rules might include speaking honestly, treating others kindly, completing homework and putting toys away after playing.

Encouraging Desired Behaviors

• A simple reward system can be an effective behavioral modification tool as long as you set achievable and specific goals and offer plenty of support for your child while she works toward the goals. Identify a behavior you want your child to perform, such as doing homework without nagging and reminders from you. After you inform your child of your expectations, create a reward that your child will receive if she performs the desired behavior. For example, every day that your child works on her homework quietly and completes it without begin reminded, she will receive a specific number of minutes using electronics after finishing her homework.

Discouraging Undesired Behaviors

• Logical consequences work well for behavior modification because they fit the misbehavior as a logical result of the acting out, according to a "What Works" brief published by the Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning. For example, having a toy confiscated after leaving it out is a logical consequence of not putting toys away. Talk to your child about misbehavior and lay out the consequences that will occur if he chooses to act out or misbehave. Respond consistently if your youngster misbehaves, always following through with consequences.