Why should I do it:
- Children can respond well to losing privileges
- Helps motivate children to follow expectations
- It is a clear-cut experiential based intervention, hands on so to speak
- Helps children see a logical connection between their behaviors and consequences
- Allows children the opportunity to make choices about what will happen
- Gives children power over outcomes
- Forces children to take responsibility for their choices and actions
When should I do it:
- Taking away privileges is a very flexible intervention and can be used as a part of your regular discipline system, like with card flips, or in addition to your discipline system and class rules
- When a student exhibits behavior problems, does not follow directives, is disruptive, does not finish work on time, etc.
- When students forget assignments and materials
- When students bully or pick on others
- When students talk back or are disrespectful
- Etc.
How do I do it:
- Use a calm and neutral tone in a matter-of-fact way
- Give the student choices, for example:
- Billy, you can either stop turning around and talking and complete your work, or you can sit in time out during recess, the choice is yours
- Clearly state the privilege to be taken away, when it will occur, and for what duration
- Discuss briefly with the student what they will need to do differently next time to keep their privilege