Lesson Plan
Catch Them Being Good: Lesson Plan
Equip parents with practical, research-backed techniques to reinforce and celebrate children’s positive behaviors at home, enabling immediate use of strategies that boost self-esteem and reduce challenging behaviors.
Parents are the most influential adults in children’s lives. By focusing on reinforcing positive behaviors, they build supportive relationships, strengthen self-esteem, and reduce misbehavior more effectively than through punishment alone.
Audience
Parents
Time
90 minutes
Approach
Engaging presentations, role-plays, and action planning.
Prep
Prepare Materials
20 minutes
- Print enough copies of the Positive Behavior Reinforcement Handout and Home Practice Tracker Template.
- Shuffle and organize the Behavior Scenario Cards into small sets.
- Load and test the Workshop Slide Deck on your projector or screen.
- Arrange seating for small-group work and role-plays.
- Have pens and sticky notes available for participants.
- Review all materials to familiarize yourself with content and timing.
Step 1
Introduction & Objectives
10 minutes
- Welcome participants and introduce yourself.
- Share workshop objectives: understanding positive reinforcement, learning strategies, practicing, and planning home application.
- Review agenda and guidelines for participation (respect, confidentiality, engagement).
Step 2
Understanding Positive Reinforcement
15 minutes
- Present key research on why positive reinforcement works (Workshop Slide Deck).
- Define and distinguish positive reinforcement vs. other responses.
- Distribute the Positive Behavior Reinforcement Handout.
- Facilitate a brief discussion: share examples of positive behaviors parents have seen or want to encourage.
Step 3
Strategy Deep Dive
20 minutes
- Introduce four core strategies using slides:
• Specific praise and behavioral narration
• Tangible rewards (when appropriate)
• Token economy systems
• Structured attention and playtime - For each strategy, provide a real-life example and ask parents to brainstorm applications at home.
- Encourage questions and clarify common concerns.
Step 4
Scenario Practice
20 minutes
- Break into small groups of 3–4.
- Give each group a set of Behavior Scenario Cards.
- In each scenario, role-play applying an appropriate reinforcement strategy.
- Rotate roles: parent, child, and observer.
- Reconvene and have each group share insights and challenges.
Step 5
Home Practice Planning
15 minutes
- Distribute the Home Practice Tracker Template.
- Guide parents to select 1–2 strategies to try over the next week.
- Have them set clear behavior targets, reinforcement methods, and tracking plans.
- Pair up participants to share their plans and commit to accountability partnerships.
Step 6
Wrap-Up & Feedback
10 minutes
- Recap the key strategies and takeaways.
- Invite final questions and address any concerns.
- Ask participants to complete the Workshop Feedback Form.
- Provide contact information for follow-up support and additional resources.
Slide Deck
Catch Them Being Good
Practical Strategies to Reinforce Positive Behaviors in Children
90-Minute Parent Workshop
Presented by [Your Name]
Welcome participants. Introduce yourself and today’s topic. Explain that we’ll explore practical, research-backed strategies for reinforcing good behaviors at home. Remind participants to grab a copy of the Positive Behavior Reinforcement Handout and Home Practice Tracker Template.
Workshop Agenda
• Introduction & Objectives (10 min)
• Why Positive Reinforcement Works (15 min)
• Defining Positive Reinforcement (10 min)
• Core Strategies Overview (10 min)
• Deep Dive: Strategies (20 min)
• Scenario Practice (20 min)
• Home Practice Planning (15 min)
• Wrap-Up & Feedback (10 min)
Walk through the agenda briefly. Invite questions about the flow and encourage participants to engage, ask questions, and share examples throughout.
Why Positive Reinforcement Works
• Builds a strong parent-child relationship
• Strengthens children’s self-esteem
• Increases frequency of desired behaviors
• Reduces need for punitive responses
(Research: Skinner, Kazdin, recent meta-analyses)
Present key research findings. Emphasize how reinforcing positive behaviors leads to stronger relationships, increased self-esteem, and reduced misbehavior.
Use slides to show simple graphs or stats if available.
What Is Positive Reinforcement?
Positive reinforcement = adding something immediately after a behavior to increase its future occurrence.
Examples:
• Specific praise (“I love how you cleaned up your toys right away!”)
• Giving a sticker for following instructions
Not punishment or ignoring – it’s about celebrating success.
Define positive reinforcement clearly and contrast briefly with other responses (e.g., punishment, ignoring). Use a quick poll: “What comes to mind when you think of reinforcement?”
Core Strategies Overview
We’ll focus on:
- Specific Praise & Behavioral Narration
- Tangible Rewards (when appropriate)
- Token Economy Systems
- Structured Attention & Playtime
Introduce the four strategies at a high level. Explain that we will dive into pairs of strategies next. Encourage participants to think of their own examples.
Strategy Deep Dive: Praise & Rewards
Specific Praise & Behavioral Narration:
• Describe exactly what you see (“You lined up your shoes so neatly!”)
• Narrate ongoing behavior (“I see you’re carefully doing your homework.”)
Tangible Rewards:
• Small tokens (stickers, points)
• Use sparingly and strategically
• Link to meaningful achievements
Discuss Specific Praise and Behavioral Narration first. Provide examples. Then introduce Tangible Rewards: when to use and how to avoid over-reliance.
Ask participants to share quick examples.
Strategy Deep Dive: Tokens & Attention
Token Economy Systems:
• Set clear target behaviors
• Earn tokens for success
• Exchange tokens for rewards
Structured Attention & Playtime:
• Schedule special time focused on child’s interests
• Use to reinforce positive interactions
• Consistency is key
Cover Token Economy Systems: explain charts, points, and exchange for rewards. Then Structured Attention & Playtime: scheduling special one-on-one time.
Invite participants to brainstorm one way they might use each at home.
Scenario Practice
• Break into groups of 3–4
• Use Behavior Scenario Cards
• Role-play applying a reinforcement strategy
• Rotate roles and discuss what worked
• Reconvene to share insights
Explain the Scenario Practice activity. Distribute the Behavior Scenario Cards. Form small groups and assign roles: parent, child, observer. Rotate roles each scenario.
Home Practice Planning
- Choose 1–2 strategies to try
- Identify specific behavior targets
- Plan reinforcement methods & schedule
- Record daily successes in the tracker
- Partner up to share and support
Distribute the Home Practice Tracker Template. Guide participants to choose 1–2 strategies, set clear behavior targets, and plan tracking. Encourage pairing up for accountability.
Key Takeaways
• Reinforce positive behaviors with specificity
• Use tangible rewards and token systems thoughtfully
• Prioritize structured attention & playtime
• Consistent tracking boosts success
• Small steps lead to big changes
Recap the four strategies and highlight the importance of consistency, specificity, and positive attention. Encourage parents to start small and build momentum.
Wrap-Up & Feedback
• Complete the Workshop Feedback Form
• Contact for follow-up: your.email@example.com
• Additional resources available upon request
Thank you for being here and for Catching Them Being Good!
Thank participants for their engagement. Remind them to complete the Workshop Feedback Form. Share your contact email/phone for follow-up questions and resources.
Worksheet
Positive Behavior Reinforcement Handout
1. What Is Positive Behavior Reinforcement?
Positive reinforcement = adding something immediately after a behavior to increase its future occurrence.
Examples: specific praise, tokens, structured playtime.
Write your own definition in simple words:
2. Benefits of Positive Reinforcement
• Builds a strong parent-child relationship
• Strengthens children’s self-esteem
• Increases desired behaviors
• Reduces need for punitive responses
Which benefit resonates most with you? Why?
3. Four Core Strategies Quick Reference
a) Specific Praise & Behavioral Narration
Definition: Describe and narrate exactly what you see to highlight good behavior.
Example: “I love how you lined up your shoes so neatly!”
How could you use this at home?
b) Tangible Rewards
Definition: Small, meaningful items (stickers, points) given sparingly to motivate.
Example: Earning a sticker for completing chores.
Plan your first tangible reward system:
c) Token Economy Systems
Definition: Earn tokens for positive behaviors, exchangeable for bigger rewards.
Example: Collecting five tokens to choose a family game night.
Outline a target behavior and reward:
d) Structured Attention & Playtime
Definition: Scheduled one-on-one time focused on your child’s interests.
Example: A 15-minute play session after homework.
Describe a weekly special-time activity:
4. My Personal Example
Select one strategy above and write a specific example of how you will apply it this week:
5. Celebrating Small Wins
How will you acknowledge and celebrate “small wins” with your child daily?
Activity
Behavior Scenario Cards
Use these scenario cards in your small groups for role-play. Each group picks a card, identifies an appropriate positive-reinforcement strategy (Specific Praise, Tangible Rewards, Token Economy, or Structured Attention), and practices a dialogue applying that strategy. Rotate roles (parent, child, observer) and discuss what worked.
Scenario Cards
-
Toy Cleanup
Your child puts away their toys immediately after playtime without being reminded.
-
Homework Completion
Your child finishes their homework carefully and hands it in on time.
-
Quiet Listening
During story time, your child sits quietly and listens attentively.
-
Patient Waiting
While you’re on a quick phone call, your child waits patiently without interrupting.
-
Sharing Snack
Your child voluntarily shares their snack with a sibling.
-
Self-Calming
When frustrated, your child takes deep breaths and uses words to express feelings instead of yelling.
-
Morning Routine
Your child completes the morning routine (getting dressed, brushing teeth) independently.
-
Polite Request
Instead of whining, your child asks politely to play a video game after chores are done.
Instructions:
• Choose one scenario card per round.
• Decide which reinforcement strategy fits best.
• Role-play the parent’s response and the child’s reaction.
• Observer provides feedback on clarity, timing, and positivity of reinforcement.
• Rotate roles and repeat with a new card.
Debrief:
After each round, discuss:
- What specific language or reward felt most meaningful?
- How did the child (actor) respond?
- What would you adjust next time?
Ready to Catch Them Being Good in action? Let’s practice!
Worksheet
Home Practice Tracker Template
Use this tracker to record and reflect on your use of positive-reinforcement strategies over one week.
Parent Name: ________________________ Week of: ________________
| Date/Day | Target Behavior | Strategy Used | Child’s Response | Notes / Next Steps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | ||||
| Tuesday | ||||
| Wednesday | ||||
| Thursday | ||||
| Friday | ||||
| Saturday | ||||
| Sunday |
Reflection and Planning
-
Which strategy seemed most effective this week?
-
What challenges did you encounter?
-
How will you adjust your approach next week?
Worksheet
Workshop Feedback Form
Thank you for participating in the “Catch Them Being Good” workshop. Your feedback helps us improve!
-
Overall, how satisfied are you with the workshop? (Circle one)
1 (Poor) 2 (Fair) 3 (Good) 4 (Very Good) 5 (Excellent)
-
How clear and helpful were the workshop objectives and content? (Circle one)
1 (Not clear) 2 3 4 5 (Very clear)
-
Which section of the workshop did you find most valuable? Why?
-
Were the materials (handout, scenario cards, tracker) useful? Please explain.
-
What suggestions do you have for improving the workshop?
-
Which positive-reinforcement strategy are you most likely to try at home? Why?
-
Additional comments or questions: