Increased attention during transitions
Flooding the learner with positive attention specifically during transitions between activities or spaces.
Transitions are notorious breeding grounds for challenging behaviour. Increased attention during transitions involves giving the learner highly preferred social interaction from the moment you announce a transition until it is complete.
You use this strategy when a learner uses problem behaviour to delay moving from one activity to another, specifically because they lose your attention during the shuffle. If you usually turn your back to set up the next activity, the learner learns that transitioning means losing you. By talking to them, singing a song together, or giving them a 'special helper' job during the move, you make the transition itself a high-attention activity.
Practitioners often fail by waiting until the transition falls apart to start providing attention. You have to start the interaction before you even give the instruction to transition. Another mistake is using reprimands as attention. If you are constantly saying 'hurry up' or 'stop touching that' during the walk down the hall, you are feeding the function with negative attention rather than preventing the behaviour with positive interaction.
Implementation
- Initiate a high-preference conversation or social game immediately before announcing the transition.
- Maintain the interaction continuously while the learner packs up or prepares to move.
- Walk alongside the learner, continuing the conversation or game.
- Provide specific praise for moving safely and following transition expectations.
- Fade the intensity of attention once the learner is successfully engaged in the next activity.
Common Mistakes
- Waiting for the learner to stall before providing attention.
- Providing negative attention (nagging, reprimanding) instead of positive interaction.
- Dropping the interaction abruptly the moment the destination is reached.