by Thomas Hobson
Child Life Director

Several posts back I mentioned the importance of positive reinforcement within the realm of disciplining children.  After writing it, I was struck by just how much positive reinforcement is used at Le Bonheur Children’s.  It seems only appropriate that we are using the same advice that we are giving families.  So, I thought I would take the opportunity to tell you about the role that positive reinforcement plays in the hospital.

As is no big surprise to most people, the hospital can be a scary place. To a child that doesn’t understand what is happening around them, the experience can be even more terrifying.  It is this fear that can lead the child into behaviors that are out of character and, at times, defiant.  (By the way, that last sentence felt a little like Yoda talking about the Dark Side.)

 It’s a natural reaction for many children to become scared or defensive when placed in a stressful situation. Our goal, as the treatment team, is not to focus on all of the negative things that a child is doing, but instead to build trust and understanding by praising the positive behaviors.  When we praise a child for an appropriate action they then know more about what is expected of them and are more likely to continue that behavior.

A great example of this is when a child is getting an IV, and they begin to become uncooperative.  Instead of getting frustrated and threatening punishment if the child does not comply, the associates will focus on praising the child for what they’re doing correctly.  The child may be crying, which is a coping technique, and keeping their arm still.  The Le Bonheur Children’s staff will focus on praising the child for keeping their arm still, and not focus on the fact that the child is crying.

I would also remind you, that positive reinforcement goes hand and hand with teaching the child about the process and giving them a “job” during the experience.  By teaching about it, you are preparing the child for what to expect, and by giving them a “job”, you are actively involving them.  When these are coupled with positive reinforcement, it is amazing how different the experience is for everyone involved.

Remember what Mary Poppins taught us, “a spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down.”  Well, at Le Bonheur Children’s, a kind word and praise helps the procedure go by.