If your child has recently received an autism diagnosis, you’re learning a lot of new terms—and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy is likely at the top of the list.
At Chivalry Behavioral and Autism Therapy in the Houston, Texas area, we know this can feel overwhelming. Our goal is to make ABA easy to understand, especially the most important part: reinforcement.
Think of reinforcement as the “power switch” for learning. In ABA, it’s a consequence that immediately follows a behavior and makes that behavior more likely to happen again. Whether we’re teaching communication skills during our in-home ABA therapy sessions or working on social skills at our upcoming center-based ABA therapy location, reinforcement is how we help your child grow.
Positive Reinforcement: Adding the Good Stuff
Positive reinforcement is all about giving your child something they like immediately after they do a target skill. The word “positive” here means we are adding something to the environment.
How it Works:
- Behavior: Your child uses the words, “My turn, please,” to ask for a toy.
- Consequence (Positive Reinforcer Added): Their therapist immediately hands them the toy and says, “Nice asking!”
Result: Your child just learned that using polite words gets them what they want. They are much more likely to use those words next time.
This is the most common tool we use at Chivalry Behavioral and Autism Therapy. Reinforcers are customized for every child, but they can be simple: verbal praise, a sticker, a high-five, or even a few minutes with a favorite toy or activity. It creates a positive, fun, and motivating learning environment for your child.
Negative Reinforcement: Taking the Unwanted Away
This is the term that confuses parents the most. In ABA, “negative” doesn’t mean “bad”; it means we are taking away or removing something the child doesn’t like or wants to escape from. Just like positive reinforcement, the goal is to increase a desired behavior.
How it Works:
- Unwanted Situation (Aversive): The therapist presents a challenging task (like a worksheet or a non-preferred chore).
- Behavior: Your child says, “Break, please,” or completes the first two steps of the chore.
- Consequence (Aversive Removed): The therapist immediately removes the task for a short time (a break) or says, “You can stop now.”
Result: Your child learned a productive way to escape or avoid the unpleasant situation. They are now more likely to use the appropriate request (“Break, please”) instead of yelling or having a tantrum to get out of the task.
At Chivalry Behavioral and Autism Therapy, our BCBAs (Board Certified Behavior Analysts) use both positive and negative reinforcement as part of your child’s individualized treatment plan. Whether we are providing support right in your home through in-home ABA therapy or in a structured setting soon at our Houston, TX area center, we are always focused on using consequences that teach your child new, helpful skills so they can thrive.
If you’re looking for compassionate, evidence-based autism therapy in the Greater Houston area, contact us to see how we can put these powerful learning tools to work for your child.
