Contracting with Kids: A Positive Way to Change Your Child's Behavior

by Jill C. Dardig, William L. Heward

Overview

"Colorful and easy to implement, this book will be a resource for parents and guardians looking to try behavior contracting in their homes." —Library Journal

When a child is struggling with a behavior challenge or wants to learn a new skill, a contract can be a surprisingly effective solution that leads to more peaceful family dynamics. To help families create contracts as a collaborative process, Contracting with Kids offers an innovative combination of how-to text for parents and illustrated stories for children.

Contracting with Kids describes a straightforward, four-step solution called behavioral contracting, a research-based technique with proven real-world success. Contracts are a tool that can benefit anyone, but they’re particularly useful for:

• Autistic children
• Children with learning or developmental disabilities
• Children who benefit from clear expectations and receiving positive feedback and rewards

The book’s beautifully illustrated stories show a diverse group of families using contracts to address common problems such as:

• Completing chores or homework
• Getting along with siblings
• Becoming independent
• Achieving personal goals

Questions after each story are designed to spark age-appropriate discussions.

Sample contracting forms and supporting materials are provided in the book and also on a companion website.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781951412715
Publisher:	The Collective Book Studio
Publication date:	05/26/2022
Sold by:	SIMON & SCHUSTER
Format:	eBook
Pages:	208
File size:	5 MB

About the Author

Jill C. Dardig is Professor Emerita of Education at Ohio Dominican University where she trained special education teachers for 30 years. During a sabbatical, Jill was a consultant at Centro da Vilariñha, a program that taught daily living and vocational skills to teenagers and young adults with developmental disabilities, in Porto, Portugal. She has been a visiting professor at Keio University in Tokyo, Japan and presented workshops for teachers and parents in Europe, South America, and Asia. Dr. Dardig has written several books and other publications about and for parents including Involving Parents of Students with Special Needs: 25 Ready-to-Use Strategies (Corwin Press, 2008). Jill has an A.B. from Mount Holyoke College and an M.Ed. and an Ed.D. from the University of Massachusetts.

William L. Heward is Professor Emeritus in the College of Education and Human Ecology at Ohio State University. He has taught at universities in Brazil, Japan, Portugal, and Singapore and given lectures and workshops in 22 other countries. A Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA-D) and Past President of the Association for Behavior Analysis International, Dr. Heward’s publications include co-authoring the books, Applied Behavior Analysis (3rd ed., Pearson, 2020) and Exceptional Children: An Introduction to Special Education (12th ed., Pearson, 2022). Bill has also written for the popular market. Some Are Called Clowns (Crowell, 1974) chronicled his five summers as a pitcher for the Indianapolis Clowns, the last of the barnstorming baseball teams. Bill has a B.A. from Western Michigan University and an Ed.D. from the University of Massachusetts.

Table of Contents

Foreword: Parenting … One of Life's Hardest Jobs Catherine Maurice 10

Preface: The Global Power of Stones 13

Introduction: Contracting and How to Use This Book 16

Part I Read Together

1 Game Suspended 23

2 Loopholes 37

3 The Number Problem 49

4 The Pet Menace 59

5 Lynn Pitches In 71

6 By Myself 77

7 Siblings United 85

8 Now It's Your Turn, Mom and Dad 91

9 Making Friends 99

Part II Make Your Own Contracts

10 What Is Contracting? 109

11 Select the Task 121

12 Choose the Reward 137

13 Write the Contract 147

14 Implement the Contract 163

15 Picture Contracts for Nonreaders 175

16 If Your Child Won't Try Contracting 185

Glossary 190

Resources 192

References 195

Acknowledgments 198

Contract Forms 200

Translations 208

Editorial Reviews

If you are a parent, read this book today. Humorous vignettes bring to life a straightforward roadmap for how to establish healthy communication, goal setting, and positive behavior in all family members.

"Bridget A. Taylor

Wow, Dardig and Heward have crafted a terrific resource for parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and anyone who spends time with kids.

"Janet S. Twyman

Let’s Make a Contract is a thorough and engaging guide for helping any family turn a negative behavioral situation into a positive one. Lots of practical examples, illustrations, and sample contracts make what could be a complex topic easy to read and follow.

"Lynn Kern Koegel

With empathy and expertise, Kaitlin Soulé guides you through your imperfect evolution as a human in order to become a better mom.

Fran Hauser - best-selling author of The Myth of the Nice Girl

For a clear, easy to understand (and implement) guide, look no further than this delightful book by two universally respected veterans of the child and family field.

"Patrick C. Friman

Approachable, accessible and deeply personal.

Gina Hamadey - author of I Want to Thank You

This is so good—time to reclaim our identity and power.

Eve Rodsky - New York Times best selling author of Fair Play

A Little Less of a Hot Mess invites readers on a path of self-development that is desperately needed in motherhood and it's been such a treat to have this resource as a mom.

Kate Rosenow - entrepreneur and new mom

In a captivating story-telling style, Jill Dardig and Bill Heward have masterfully crafted practical guidelines for developing and implementing behavioral contracts....this technique...becomes a fun learning opportunity for any family member to succeed at changing a behavior or attaining a personal goal.

Amiris Dipuglia - MD

This book touches my heart. With tenderness and respect, Drs. Dardig and Heward invite families to embark on a journey of intentional and shared growth. They provide important and practical guidance to help parents and children navigate possible actions, expectations, and consequences.

Shahla Alarsquoi-Rosales

Through the storytelling, clear and straightforward examples provided, and ongoing emphasis on open and direct communication among families, Dardig and Heward have set the stage for their hope to become a reality, handing families the tools they need to improve their relationships through contracting.

Association for Science in Autism Treatment

In Let’s Make a Contract, Jill Dardig and Bill Heward do an amazing job of presenting a step-by-step approach to help parents and children improve their lives through contracts.

"Mary Lynch Barbera

Let’s Make a Contract absolutely inspired me. The day after reading it, I renewed my commitment to apply these principles with my nonverbal son and saw immediate results.

"Lorri Unumb

If you are a parent, read this book today. Humorous vignettes bring to life a straightforward roadmap for how to establish healthy communication, goal setting, and positive behavior in all family members.

Bridget A. Taylor

This book touches my heart. With tenderness and respect, Drs. Dardig and Heward invite families to embark on a journey of intentional and shared growth. They provide important and practical guidance to help parents and children navigate possible actions, expectations, and consequences.

Shahla Ala’i-Rosales

In a captivating story-telling style, Jill Dardig and Bill Heward have masterfully crafted practical guidelines for developing and implementing behavioral contracts. In their hands, this technique—which is solidly grounded on scientific principles— becomes a fun learning opportunity for any family member to succeed at changing a behavior or attaining a personal goal.

Amiris Dipuglia

Wow, Jill Dardig and Bill Heward have crafted a terrific resource for parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and anyone else who spends time with kids. Whether it be academic behaviors, household chores, or personal goals, Let’s Make a Contract is bound to get you and your kidsexcited about getting things done.

Janet S. Twyman

As a special education teacher and a parent of a child with a disability, I have found that managing behaviors in children and young adults is possible with the right tools. Let’s Make a Contract is in that must-have category.

Danielle M. Kovach

Let’s Make a Contract absolutely inspired me. The day after reading it, I made some changes in my parenting approach and had a wonderful day with my nonverbal son, following a handful of really tough days.

Lorri Unumb

Sharing the insights and skills needed to craft contracts between parents and children, so that both can get what matters to them, this pragmatic book draws on psychological, behavioral, and educational research to promote collaboration and clear communication.

Foreword Reviews

Let’s Make a Contract is a thorough and engaging guide for helping any family turn a negative behavioral situation into a positive one. Lots of practical examples, illustrations, and sample contracts make what could be a complex topic easy to read and follow.

Lynn Kern Koegel

For a clear, easy to understand (and implement) guide, look no further than this delightful book by two universally respected veterans of the child and family field.

In Let’s Make a Contract, Jill Dardig and Bill Heward do an amazing job of presenting a step-by-step approach to help parents and children improve their lives through contracts.

From the Publisher

05/01/2022

Dardig (emerita, education, Ohio Dominican Univ.; Involving Parents of Students with Special Needs: 25 Ready-To-Use Strategies) and Heward (emeritus, Coll. of Education and Human Ecology, Ohio State Univ.; Exceptional Children: An Introduction to Special Education) here introduce behavior contracts as a way to communicate cooperatively with children. These contracts are based around a task to be completed and a reward for the behavior. The authors begin by providing nine stories which illustrate the concept of the contract. These are designed to be read aloud to a child and show how four sample families use contracts to reach their goals. Part two is a practical handbook to creating personalized contracts: decide on a reward, select the task, put it in writing, and state how to implement it. The final chapters include information on creating picture contracts for children who are nonreaders, as well as help for situations where children refuse contracting. The book is colorful with pictures peppering the read-aloud stories and sample contracts at the end of each story that make it simple to explain the concept to children. The work concludes with fill-in forms the parents and caregivers can use as a starting point. VERDICT Colorful and easy to implement, this book will be a resource for parents and guardians looking to try behavior contracting in their homes.

Library Journal