National Adolescent Health Month and Positive Reinforcement 2024

Greeting readers! 

This month is National Adolescent Health Month (NAHM)! This month, CARE will be sharing various ways in which people can make a difference in youth’s lives. Like before, we are following multiple themes and action steps community members use today to positively impact a youth’s life. They are:

  • Ensure and expand access to health care, human services, and safe and supportive environments

  • Support and translate adolescent health research and improve health information and health literacy

  • Increase youth agency, youth engagement, and training and support for caring adults

  • Eliminate disparities to advance health equity and increase collaboration and coordination across systems

To learn more follow us on all our social media platforms @carecoalitionaz to see what action steps you can take today! Check out our previous NAHM blog from last year for additional information.

Another way youth development can be fostered is through positive reinforcement. Let’s take a deep dive into the world of positive reinforcement and how both caregivers and educators can adopt it to create an environment that fosters motivation and excitement for learning.

Positive reinforcement is about giving rewards to make good behaviors stick around. Instead of always pointing out mistakes, this way of thinking focuses on saying “Wow, good job!” when your youth has done something right. This positive approach emphasizes the recognition and reinforcement of positive behaviors. The idea of positive reinforcement can be simple: when individuals are acknowledged and rewarded for their effort, they are more likely to repeat those behaviors.

B.F. Skinner, a renowned psychologist, played a significant role in the development of behaviorism and in popularizing and understanding positive reinforcement. The basic principles of reinforcement were recognized and studied by psychologists before him. However, Skinner’s work contributed significantly to the development and application of condition. (Rumfola, 2017)

Positive reinforcement plays a big role in childhood development, both mentally and emotionally. Adopting positive reinforcement in our daily lives promotes positive and optimal adolescent health! Positive reinforcement has been linked to improving student behavior and social skills in a classroom environment. By creating a supportive environment that emphasizes the Importance of positive reinforcement, youth are more likely to develop healthy coping mechanisms and resilience, which may lead to better emotional regulation and reduced stress.  (Diedrich, 2010)

Positive Reinforcement in Schools

  • Educators can boost their student’s self-esteem and motivation by acknowledging and rewarding their accomplishments, big or small.

  • Offer verbal praise, certificates, or small rewards like stickers or pencils can reinforce positive behaviors as well as motivate students in achieving academic goals.

  • Positive reinforcement has been linked to improved student behavior and social skills, creating a positive learning environment that supports not only academic success but also overall mental and emotional well-being. (Jattie & Timperley, 2007)

Positive Reinforcement in Homes

  • Creating a reward system that best fits to a youth’s interest and age may be a great incentive for encouraging completing chores or excelling an academic goal!

  • Instead of a generic praise, provide specific feedback about what your youth did well. For example, “I’m proud of how you shared your toys with your friend,” or “You did a great job at cleaning up your room.”

  • Consistency is key to positive reinforcement. Ensure that you consistently acknowledge and reward positive behavior.

By implementing positive reinforcement in a classroom or home setting in daily activity, caregivers and educators can create a positive environment where their youth feel motivated and excited about learning. Positive reinforcement is a widely used technique in creating a healthy and positive environment. Many of our upcoming parenting classes include key aspects of positive reinforcement highlighting to empower caregivers and educators in a supportive environment.

Here’s how YOU can a Prevention Partner:

  • Praise and Encourage Good Behavior: Acknowledge and reward any positive actions you’ve noticed in your youth, such as giving specific praise.

  • Set Clear Expectations: Establish rules that are fair and discuss consequences for behavior, ensuring consistency and accountability.

  • Active Listening & Empathy: By actively listening a youth’s feelings, this can build empathy and demonstrate positive behavior as a role model. They can feel heard, understood, and validated.

  • Free Resource: Attend our free Positive Parenting Program, an evidence-based parenting program. The program aims to provide parents with skills and strategies to promote positive parent-child relationships, manage difficult behaviors, and support the child’s development. Participants who complete the program will receive a $20 gift card as a bonus! Click here to learn more about our Triple P class, and use the Contact tab to show your interest sign up today!

References:

The Office of Population Affairs (OPA), 2024: https://opa.hhs.gov/nahm

Jennifer L. Diedrich, Motivating Students Using Positive Reinforcement, 2010: https://soar.suny.edu/handle/20.500.12648/5977

Lindsey Rumfola, Positive Reinforcement Positively Helps Students in the Classroom, 2017: https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/233575937.pdf

Helen Timperley & John Hattie, The Power of Feedback, 2007: https://www.columbia.edu/~mvp19/ETF/Feedback.pdf