Yes, We Can!
~ This entry was posted on February 23, 2009
As constant gloomy economic news dominated the media, Barack Obama’s presidential campaign slogan “Yes, We Can” inspired so much hope in the American people. When I thought about the influence this positive phrase had on such a troubled nation, it made me think about the power of Yes as it applies to all aspects of our lives, and to parenting in particular. One of the biggest mistakes parents make is saying “No” too often. Being told no frustrates a child and can instigate bad behaviors. Instead of saying “No”, try telling the child instead what he CAN do. For example, if a child asks for a treat before dinner you could respond by saying “You can have a sweet treat after we eat our dinner.” Of course there are times when a parent has to say no, but I often suggest to parents for every No response, try to offer at least two Yes answers. Making positive behavioral changes is crucial to the practice of applied behavior analysis (aba). Try the “Yes We Can” approach and see what a difference it will make in your child’s behavior. And stay tuned for more great ways our new president is supporting Autism research and treatment.
