All parents want to find the best way to help their children behave, learn, and grow. This can be a bit more of a challenge for parents of children with autism. When it comes to teaching new behaviors, many behavior analysts encourage the use of something called “natural reinforcement” for kids on and off the spectrum.
So, what exactly is natural reinforcement for autism, and how can you use it to manage the behavioral challenges? Let’s learn all about it.
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What is natural reinforcement?
You may have heard of positive reinforcement, which occurs when a certain behavior is rewarded so the child is more motivated to carry out the behavior later. It’s an effective strategy for disciplining autistic children, too.
For example, let’s say a boy named Sam has trouble getting ready for school on time. On a day when Sam does get ready on time, his mom may give him a reward to positively reinforce the behavior. Rewards like snacks, tokens, toys, etc. are known as “back-up reinforcers” in this framework.
Natural reinforcement is related to positive reinforcement, but the difference is that the reward for the child’s behavior should be natural. In other words, the reward should occur as a result of the behavior, instead of coming from an outside source.
In a recent study, the authors explain that when certain outcomes of behavior make a child happy, these outcomes act as natural rewards. This means that if a behavior leads to positive feelings for the child, it is more likely to be repeated because it is naturally reinforced.
In Sam’s case, the intrinsic consequences of getting ready in time are that he won’t miss out on any learning, he may get to spend more time with friends at the start of the day, and he and his mom will be less stressed.
Benefits of natural reinforcement for autism
There’s nothing inherently wrong with using backup reinforcers at first, but natural reinforcement can be much more effective at building lasting behaviors.
When children understand the direct results of their actions, they better understand the importance of those actions and of their own agency.
If a child only leaves for school on time because they expect their favorite snack, they won’t put together how each part of their morning routine directly impacts the rest of their day. They may also feel betrayed if they don’t get the snack, but it’s not reasonable to give them the snack forever.
It’s tempting to rely on artificial rewards because they can be quick, easy fixes to an immediate problem. And during the chaotic times that come with parenting an autistic kid, sometimes an easy fix is all you want!
However, the target behavior will be more reinforced in the long run if the child understands what they get out of it naturally. Natural reinforcement helps them transfer the same skills into similar situations.
For example, imagine a child learning to respect others’ personal space by asking for permission before giving a hug. The natural reward for asking is either receiving a hug or having a positive and respectful interaction.
Having observed and understood the link between the action and the result, the child will have an easier time applying this lesson to other contexts, such as school or family gatherings.
If they only learned this behavior because of an artificial reward unrelated to the behavior, it would be harder to repeat it in a different environment without the expectation of the reward.
How to implement natural reinforcement at home
At first, you may be unsure how to use natural reinforcers to your advantage. If they’re an automatic result of an action, what else can you do to control them? But there are a few steps to take in order to make the intrinsic consequences work as reinforcers.
Step 1: Identify the target behavior
Research recommends identifying a specific target behavior you want your autistic child to achieve and then identifying all the consequences that come from it. These consequences can be small details you may not think of right away.
For example, the research article identifies some consequences of writing as: “noise made by the pencil when writing on the paper or the form and size of the marks on the paper.”
If you want to improve an autistic child’s handwriting, focus on the results that directly relate to this goal. Ensure that these results are easy to see and clearly explainable.
Step 2: Choose back-up reinforcers
Although backup reinforcers may be artificial, try to relate them to the activity as much as possible. If an autistic child is resistant to wearing shoes, the target behavior is, of course, putting on and keeping the shoes on. When they wear the shoes, a backup reinforcer might be free time to play outside.
Research highlights that a backup reward should not distract from noticing the natural benefits of a behavior. For example, when a child wears shoes, the natural benefit is that they can play outside safely.
Step 3: Gradually remove backup reinforcers
To make things clearer, you can use natural rewards as motivators. Slowly reduce the use of additional rewards and explain the benefits of the natural reward instead.
If the child successfully wears their shoes and gets to play, point out how they are protected from hot asphalt, sharp sticks, stubbed toes, etc. As time goes by, you can lessen these explanations, too.
Eventually, the child will understand the importance of the behavior and be able to complete it even without the promise of free time.
Step 4: Remain patient
Research also emphasizes being patient as you teach. Don’t interrupt your child when they perform the target behavior. Allow time for the natural reinforcer to happen and be observed before any explanation.
Make sure you don’t ask them to perform the behavior too often. You don’t want them to get tired of the activity and its natural consequences.
As much as you can, try to maintain the conditions in which the natural reinforcer can occur and teach your child with autism how to create or maintain these conditions.
Teach them how to explain the natural rewards of the target behavior. This helps the child see how their actions lead to positive results and encourages them to think positively about the behavior.
Helping them become aware of the world around them
Natural reinforcement is a common technique for teaching both children with autism and neurotypical children. At the end of the day, we all have to interact with the world, and we learn and grow based on observing what our choices bring us.
Helping your autistic child adapt to new expectations might be difficult, but easing into natural reinforcement from positive reinforcement can be very effective. Hopefully, your child will become more independent and aware of the effect their actions have on themselves, others, and the world around them.
FAQs
Q: What is an example of a natural reinforcement?
A: An example of a natural reinforcement is a child receiving praise or a smile from a teacher after answering a question correctly. This positive feedback makes the child more likely to repeat the behavior.
Q: Is natural reinforcement used in ABA?
A: Yes, natural reinforcement is used in ABA. It helps individuals learn and maintain behaviors by associating them with naturally occurring rewards.
Q: What are examples of reinforcement in ABA?
A: Examples of reinforcement in ABA include verbal praise, tokens, or small rewards given immediately after a desired behavior. These reinforcements encourage the behavior to happen more often.
References
Comunidad Los Horcones. Natural reinforcement: A way to improve education. J Appl Behav Anal. 1992 Spring;25(1):71-5. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1992.25-71. PMID: 16795774; PMCID: PMC1279652. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1279652/?page=1
