“The Power of Positive Reinforcement: Why Rewards Trump Punishments for Students with ADHD” [Video Replay & Podcast #420]

Access the video replay, listen to the podcast episode (#420), download the slide presentation, and learn how to get a certificate of attendance for this ADHD Experts webinar originally broadcast on September 8, 2022.

ADHD Expert: Gail Tripp, Ph.D. Verified Updated on April 18, 2023
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Episode Description

Positive reinforcement inspires more consistent motivation and better learning outcomes for children with ADHD, who are more sensitive to rewards and punishments than are their neurotypical peers. Research shows that positive reinforcement (rewards for achievements) changes the brain at the cellular level; it also shows that children with ADHD are more likely to become frustrated and give up when they don’t receive anticipated rewards for completing a difficult task.

Yes, punishment may keep a child with ADHD on task in the short term. But studies show that punishment, or the anticipation of punishment, may carry serious long-term consequences if the child’s emotional regulation skills are weak.

Given these findings, how might educators and caregivers more effectively approach motivation and behavior modification for children with ADHD? In this webinar, you will learn:

  • How to respond when a child’s task persistence drops away and she begins to respond impulsively or become emotional
  • How to use positive reinforcement when a child is learning a new skill or task that requires much effort
  • How to introduce strategies that will build a child’s stamina for waiting
  • How to use reinforcement to help children as they transition from one activity or setting to another
  • How to match homework demands to a child’s capacity, and how to reward effort when the work is challenging

Watch the Video Replay

Enter your email address in the box above labeled “Video Replay + Slide Access” to watch the video replay (closed captions available) and download the slide presentation.

Download or Stream the Podcast Audio

Click the play button below to listen to this episode directly in your browser, click the symbol to download to listen later, or open in your podcasts app: Apple Podcasts; Google Podcasts; Stitcher; Spotify; Amazon Music; iHeartRADIO.

More on Positive Reinforcement and ADHD

Obtain a Certificate of Attendance

If you attended the live webinar on September 8, 2022, watched the video replay, or listened to the podcast, you may purchase a certificate of attendance option (cost: $10). Note: ADDitude does not offer CEU credits. Click here to purchase the certificate of attendance option »

Meet the Expert Speaker:

Gail Tripp, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist and professor at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University in Japan. She focuses on the learning and motivational processing of children with ADHD and implications for treatment. In a recent study, she examined predictors of academic achievement in children with ADHD.

Webinar Sponsor

The sponsor of this ADDitude webinar is….

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ADDitude thanks our sponsors for supporting our webinars. Sponsorship has no influence on speaker selection or webinar content.

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