running

[Guest guest]

,

I think that I would approach this as three skills to teach:

Stopping on command

Walking in tandem

Staying in a defined area

Does the child stop on command? If not you could teach " stop " as a command.

This behavior could be shaped:

Stops when instructed with instructor 2 feet away and facing learner

Stops when instructed with instructor 5 feet away and facing learner

Stops when instructed with instructor 10 feet away and facing learner

Stops when instructed with instructor 2 feet away and behind learner

Stops when instructed with instructor 5 feet away and behind learner

Stops when instructed with instructor 10 feet away and behind learner

Stops when instructed with instructor 20 feet away and behind learner

And so on.

This does not stop the attempt at running, but will decrease the safety

risk. Each trial could be reinforced with a tangible item or activity, then

the reinforcment schedule is slowly thinned.

For public places it is worth teaching walking in tandem in a controlled

environment, then generalizing to stores, parks, etc.

In stores we found it easiest to start with those stores which have carts.

This allowed us to teach walking next to the adult and holding onto the

cart. Initially, we did not even shop, just went in, got a cart, walked a

short distance and left. Then we increased the time in the store, added

placing items in cart, checking out. We would put one reinforcing item in

cart, go to express checkout, then leave. Now we can do all our shopping

without incident and can go to any store. We did take tangible reinforces

with us, used behavior specific social praise. We started with stores at the

least busy time to avoid long check outs! We actually had to start with

sitting in the parking lot without behaviors since our daughter found even

approaching a store aversive. We took a DVD player in the car to reinforce

this and actually used it in the shopping cart for the first few trips

inside.

For the park we actually started teaching in our backyard which is fenced

and then generalized this. I have not found the RDI data compelling, but

their " social referencing " goals/exercises are actually quite helpful when

analyzed and implemented behaviorally.

We have padlocks on our backyard gates and keyed deadbolts on all doors for

safety.

The other thing to consider is why escape is so motivating.