| When it comes to parenting, an area that so many of | | | | brain functions. We have the ability to do an activity |
| us struggle with is disciplining our children. After a long | | | | that we know will cause us harm or discomfort and do |
| day, the idea of using positive reinforcement can seem | | | | it anyway. We can be spiteful, intentionally harmful to |
| just out of reach. | | | | others and ourselves. We can also choose to sacrifice |
| The idea behind parenting discipline using positive | | | | ourselves for others, even if our experiences suggest |
| reinforcement is based on the premise that we can | | | | that we should do otherwise. What all that means is |
| create behavior modification in our children. There is | | | | that you can work as hard as you want with behavior |
| plenty of studies that show the ability to mold and train | | | | modification methods and still have a child that will act |
| animals through positive reinforcement. You praise a | | | | out, throw temper tantrums, bite, yell, scream, and |
| dog when they come or sit. You give them a treat and | | | | much more. |
| they will continue to follow through on the training you | | | | Our children are not animals and they can be |
| gave them. | | | | unpredictable. That doesn't mean we should stop with |
| But what about children? Are they able to be trained | | | | the positive reinforcement though. Even if it doesn't |
| with the same method? Yes and No. | | | | guarantee we see the desired behavior, we will be |
| The Yes Part: As humans (yes - children are humans | | | | building up our children and our relationship with them in |
| too!), there is some aspect of our nature that can be | | | | a positive way. |
| motivated to follow instructions and procedures using | | | | Parenting through positive reinforcement is not going to |
| traditional behavior modification reinforced through | | | | work in all situations and it surely will not work all the |
| positive reinforcement. This can be a word of | | | | time. Children are children. They are going to break the |
| encouragement, praising the child as they are doing | | | | rules sometime. No one is perfect. |
| what you are wanting them to do. It can be a treat or | | | | That is why, as parents we have to actively review, |
| reward as seen by your child. | | | | revise, and improve our methods of parenting children. |
| The No Part: Unlike animals, we humans have higher | | | | |