When a child demonstrates behavior intended to escape a demand, what is the appropriate action?

In the context of a child demonstrating behavior intended to escape a demand, praising completion or attempts at the task is an effective approach for several reasons. This strategy reinforces positive behavior and acknowledges the child's efforts, which can increase their motivation to engage with the task. By providing praise, the child learns that completing the demand or even trying leads to positive outcomes, thus potentially reducing their desire to escape from it.

Positive reinforcement, such as praise, helps to establish a connection between the behavior (task completion) and a rewarding outcome, making it more likely that the child will engage in the behavior in the future. This approach can gradually help to reshape the child's response to demands, reducing their anxiety or resistance to completing tasks.

In contrast, other approaches like ignoring the behavior might fail to address the underlying issue and may allow the escape behavior to persist, while increasing the demands placed on the child could lead to further resistance or frustration. Completely removing the demand could inadvertently reinforce the escape behavior, making it less likely for the child to develop the skills necessary for task engagement. Therefore, the use of praise is a supportive and constructive strategy in managing the situation effectively.