All Done!?
Last weekend, I was looking after my little boy whilst the missus was working at her little shop thing. I was playing Fallout: New Vegas on my PC and my lad (2 years old) was mucking about in the periphery of my vision. Suddenly the little fellow comes running up to me, clutching his hand and crying. Somehow he'd managed to cut himself on the underside of his hand, a big cut that looked like it was painful but not serious.

I picked him up and took him to the bathroom, I washed the cut and applied a plaster. My little boy was crying and crying, asking for his mummy, and saying "All Done?!" - his all purpose phrase for "had enough tea now thanks" and "you've dangled me upside down for long enough thanks" or "the telly show is over". All Done.

Except now he was expressing in his own little vocabulary that he was "All Done" with the pain now thanks, and there was no way he could understand that it would take a while to feel better. I don't think I'll ever forget the sound of his voice and the look on his face at that moment.

Negative reinforcement at its best. I'll never take my eyes off him again. Until I download 'Batman Arkham Asylum' off Steam that is...
(theremin put the lotion in the basket on, Thu 25 Nov 2010, 12:11, 2 replies)

that isn't negative reinforcement.
a reinforcer is something which correlates with a behaviour. a negative reinforcer has a negative correlation ie it is something which when removed correlates with a behaviour. To illustrate with an example, a seat belt alarm in a car, when you fasten your seat belt the alarm (negative reinforcer) stops.
Or, when you get it right you will stop getting stupid, pedantic, humourless posts like this one.
I hope you've learnt your lesson.
( Sextant goes to him is emotionally erect, on this day, Thu 25 Nov 2010, 15:28, closed)

I see what you did wrong.
You didn't mention kissing the plaster. That always works for my kids.
(CADmonkey rollllllllled another one, just like the other one, Thu 25 Nov 2010, 16:57, closed)