Ethan has been taking a martial arts class since the beginning of summer. So far it is the only activity of any type in which he will remotely follow instructions. He even shouts, "Yes, Sir!"
The reason? Incentives. Every third class he gets a new stripe on his belt. Today--8 stripes later--he got a new belt with a yellow stripe. This is a very big deal for him. A very, very big deal.
I've suggested that we follow this Skinnerian model with regard to all aspects of his life--from getting up in the morning, to getting dressed, to eating, to sitting still and paying attention in school, to going to bed. I could wear a whistle like the dad in "Sound of Music." Every third day he makes it through school without jumping out of his seat and writhing around on the floor, he gets a stripe.
So far I've been out-voted by Jennifer and his school teacher and principal, who are helping him learn to WANT to behave in a socially acceptable way. Uh-huh. Good luck with that.
Roll tape.
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