How We Find What Truly Motivates Your Child (and Why It’s Not Bribery)
If you’ve ever wondered how we get your child to participate in challenging or new tasks during therapy, the answer might surprise you; it’s not magic, and it’s definitely not bribery. It’s something called a preference or reinforcer assessment, and it’s a foundational part of high-quality ABA therapy.
Let’s break down what that means, why it matters, and how it actually works in practice.
What Is a Reinforcer Assessment?
In simple terms, a reinforcer assessment is how we figure out what motivates your child; what they genuinely enjoy or value enough to work for. We don’t guess. We observe, offer choices, and track how their behavior changes based on what’s available to them.
Here are a few of the ways we do this:
- Concurrent Schedule: We present two options at once (like a favorite toy vs. a tablet) and see which one your child chooses more often when they earn it through their actions.
- Multiple Schedule: We offer the same task at different times, but each time is linked with a different potential reward. We observe when your child works more consistently, and that tells us which option is more reinforcing.
- Progressive Ratio: This one helps us see how much your child is willing to do for a certain item or activity. We gradually ask for more effort before they receive the reinforcer. The point at which they stop working for it helps us measure how powerful that reinforcer really is.
Why This Matters in Therapy
Reinforcement isn’t just about making therapy “fun.” It’s about making learning effective.
We want your child to build new skills that stick, whether it’s communicating more clearly, handling transitions, or following directions. For that to happen, the experience needs to feel worthwhile to them. Reinforcer assessments help us connect the dots between what motivates your child and what they’re working on, so we can help them learn faster, with more confidence and joy.
And over time? We aim to fade out the need for frequent reinforcement, especially the tangible kind, as your child starts to experience success, independence, and social rewards that are naturally built into daily life.
A Quick Note on “Bribery”
We get this question a lot, and it’s a valid one: Isn’t this just bribing my child to behave?
Not at all. Here’s the key difference:
- Bribery is reactive; it often happens after a problem behavior, like saying, “If you stop screaming, I’ll give you candy.”
- Reinforcement, on the other hand, is proactive and planned. We clearly set expectations upfront: “First we clean up, then it’s time for music.” We’re teaching that effort and participation lead to good things, not that outbursts get rewards.
Reinforcement builds new behaviors. Bribery accidentally reinforces the old ones.
Try This at Home
Want to get a head start? Here are a few ideas you can use right now:
- Watch what your child chooses during free time. Do they always reach for the same toy? That’s a strong preference.
- Notice what makes them smile, laugh, or calm down—those reactions are great indicators of natural reinforcers.
- Before asking your child to do something hard, try saying, “First ____, then ____.” Keep it simple, and follow through.
If you’re ever unsure what might motivate your child, or how to avoid bribery, we’re here to help. That’s what good therapy is about: understanding your child and using that insight to help them thrive.
