Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) Coaching Video with Mariana Harms

Summary

The video demonstrates techniques for engaging a child in constructive play. It emphasizes praising positive behaviors, modeling desired actions, and describing the child's activities to keep them focused. The adult in the video uses praise to reinforce self-esteem and problem-solving while ignoring undesired behavior to guide the child back to the activity. The key strategies involve following the child's lead, maintaining calm when things don't go as planned, and using positive reinforcement to encourage cooperation, creativity, and conversation during the play session.

Takeaways

• 😀 Positive reinforcement is key: Praise helps boost self-esteem and reinforces desired behavior.
• 👍 Describing actions: Narrating the child’s actions keeps them focused and engaged in the activity.
• 👀 Ignoring distractions: Ignore undesired behavior like stepping away and focus on positive actions when they return.
• 💡 Model desired behavior: Demonstrate calmness and persistence when things don’t go as planned.
• 🎯 Follow the child’s lead: Imitating the child’s actions makes the play more fun and engaging for them.
• 👏 Praise specifics: Let the child know exactly what behavior or action is being praised.
• 😊 Reinforce conversation skills: Reflect and repeat the child's words to strengthen communication.
• 🏗️ Narrate problem-solving: Describe the child’s problem-solving process to encourage focus and creativity.
• ⏳ Use time reminders: Giving a heads-up about time left helps children prepare for transitions.
• 🔄 Stay available for help: Offer assistance without directing, allowing the child to decide if they want help or move on.

Q & A

What technique is the adult using when they praise the child's actions?

The adult is using positive reinforcement by praising the child’s actions. This helps build the child’s self-esteem and encourages the continuation of desired behaviors.

How does the adult use description to keep the child engaged?

The adult describes the child’s actions, such as ‘I see that you’re moving the trucks into a line.’ This keeps the child focused on the activity and reinforces their efforts without giving directives.

Why does the adult ignore certain behaviors, like when the child leaves the frame?

The adult ignores undesired behaviors, like the child leaving the frame, to avoid reinforcing them. Instead, they focus on making the activity fun and rewarding when the child returns to keep the child engaged.

What role does imitation play in this interaction?

Imitation plays a key role in making the play experience more fun for the child. The adult follows the child’s lead by mimicking their actions, which increases the child’s enjoyment and encourages collaborative play.

How does the adult model problem-solving when the blocks fall over?

The adult models calmness and problem-solving by saying ‘I think I'm going to try this again’ when the blocks fall over. This shows the child how to stay calm and try again when things don’t go as planned.

Why is it important for the adult to describe the child's focus and effort, such as ‘I love seeing your concentration’?

Describing the child’s focus and effort, like saying ‘I love seeing your concentration,’ emphasizes the child's behavior and reinforces positive traits such as perseverance and attention.

What is the purpose of avoiding directives and instead making play fun?

The purpose is to encourage voluntary participation from the child. By making the activity engaging, the child is more likely to stay involved without the need for instructions or directives.

How does reflecting the child's words contribute to their development?

Reflecting the child’s words, like repeating after them, reinforces their conversation skills and lets the child know they are being listened to, which helps build communication and social interaction abilities.

What is the significance of giving a time warning, such as ‘three more minutes until we’re done’?

Providing a time warning helps the child prepare for transitions, which can reduce frustration and make the end of an activity smoother. It teaches the child time management and prepares them for changes in routine.

Why is it important to praise the child when they return to play after leaving?

Praising the child for returning to play reinforces the desired behavior of staying engaged in the activity. It shows the child that returning is positive and appreciated without drawing attention to the fact that they left.