A Positive Way to Improve Family Dynamics
Recorded in 2023
First developed in the 1970s, contingency contracting is a behavior change strategy that identifies a task to be completed and a reward to follow successful accomplishment of the task. Research has demonstrated the effectiveness of contracting to improve behavior and teach new skills to children, with and without disabilities, in home, school, and community settings. Using children’s stories, examples of contracts used by families to help children with and without disabilities fulfill household responsibilities, learn new skills, get ready for school in the morning, and make friends at school will be presented. Attendees will receive materials for developing, implementing, and evaluating contracts field-tested by more than 300 families.
Learning Objectives
After this session, attendees should be able to:
1. State the purpose and give an example of each part of a behavior contract: Task, Reward,
Task Record, Official Seal, and Signatures.
2. Describe how parents and their children can use three lists to identify tasks and select
rewards for family contracts.
3. Identify three common reasons why family contracts fail.
