What is Manding?
A mand is a verbal behaviour term for a request. Any child at any level mands. In fact, we all mand.
Why is Manding Important?
Manding is important because it is the first repertoire learned by all children. Manding provides immediate reinforcement for the child. It also pairs up the person delivering the item with reinforcement. Request- ing is vital for social interactions and it can alleviate many problem behaviours.
Signs of Motivation
To start off with, ensure that the person has motivation for the item you are going to teach. To do this, a small piece of the item or a small amount of the activity can be delivered. Then look for signs of motiva- tion for the item, such as looking at item/activity, moving towards the item/activity, smiling, laughing, looking at you and/or moving towards you.
This summer try contriving some situations during your summer activities to encourage your child’s manding. Then, make sure to reinforce it!
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