The Just 7 Steps Podcast

Liz Maher is a behavior analyst and a mom. Her oldest daughter, Sarah, was diagnosed with autism back in 1998. In addition to supporting her own daughter's education and development, Liz also became a BCBA. She worked for close to 15 years supporting Pennsylvania school teachers in applying behavioral analytic principles in their classrooms. Along with her husband Steve, Liz founded a company called DataMTD, which produces online applications for two of the most widely used assessments in verbal behavior: the VB-MAPP app for Dr. Mark Sundberg, as well as the EFL app for Dr. Patrick McGreevy.Liz and I begin our discussion by talking about her personal journey and what led her into the field of ABA. We then talk about her current work with her husband and how their apps are making teachers' lives easier when it comes to behavior tracking, analysis, and assessments. Liz and I also discuss how ABA has changed and evolved over the years, stories Liz has from her experiences in the classroom, and suggestions on how we can make the world better through behavior analysis.What's Inside:Liz's personal journey and how she got into the field of ABA.How Liz and her husband are helping teachers with their apps.Thoughts on how to make the world better through ABA.Mentioned In This Episode:Just 7 Steps YouTubeMark Sundberg – VB-MAPPEssentialForLiving.comEFLApp.com

Over my 20-plus years in the behavior field, I haven't heard a lot of talk about self-management. One place I did hear about it was in 2018 at the ABA International conference. I participated in a workshop called “Exploring the Systematic Use of Self-Monitoring as a Behavioral Intervention: The Self and Match System”.  That presentation was given by my two guests, Dr. Katharine M. Croce and Jamie Salter. Katie and Jamie are responsible for the main school-based self-monitoring system I use, called Self and Match. Both Katie and Jamie have impressive academic backgrounds along with several years of real-world experience.Katie, Jamie, and I discuss when and how they developed the Self & Match system and how far they've come since its humble beginnings. We also talk about their journeys into the field of ABA and how Katie and Jamie met. We then dive into what Self and Match is, how it works, and who it's for. The official definition is an evidence-based self-monitoring system that's used in schools, homes, clinics, and more. It's a tool to systematically teach individuals how to self-reflect on their own behavior. We discuss how to get training on Self & Match and how to implement it. To learn more, check out the resources below.What's Inside:How Katie and Jamie got into ABA and created Self & Match.Who Self & Match is for and the goals it accomplishes.Resources on Self & Match and how to get started.Mentioned In This Episode:Just 7 Steps YouTubeFuture Self & Match TrainingsResearch on Self-Monitoring and Self & MatchBeyond the Walls: Establishing Classroom Expectations in a Virtual Classroom (journal article)Free Resource: T-Charts to teaching expectationsManuals ( 10% discount thru 2023 with promo code: JUST7STEPS)Connect with Jamie/Katie:Email: selfandmatch@gmail.com (or team@selfandmatch.com)facebook.com/selfandmatchtwitter.com/selfandmatchInstagram.com/selfandmatchweb: www.selfandmatch.com

Everyone loves tips and advice, but where do you get the advice you can trust? One of the things I try to do with my video blog is to give parents important tips and advice that can help them become more successful with their children. Here, I'm sharing some of the best tips and advice from my blog over the past half year, including:5 tips to avoiding bad behavior in your kidsHow to discipline your kids through the use of consequencesHow to handle sensory issuesI finish things off with information from a blog I did on parenting advice that you should ignore. I'll share a list of bad advice I've seen given to parents that really don't offer any meaningful value or at worst, can harm a child long-term. If you want to learn more about getting your kids to listen to you without nagging or raising your voice, check out my workshop through the link below. What's Inside:The best tips and tricks from the past half year on the Just 7 Steps blog.Mentioned In This Episode:Just 7 Steps YouTubeJust7Steps.com/workshop

Last week, I covered how to teach a pre-verbal child to imitate sounds on request as we build toward teaching them how to talk. Here, we'll cover the motivational aspects of learning a language and how to teach children to ask for things they want in increasingly complex ways. For some children, learning how to talk is a really high hurdle to get over on their own. Many of the traditional approaches to teaching children how to talk fall short. I share the whys and hows of teaching a child to mand, or request something they need. The reason mand training is such an important part of early language development is that it is based on the simple concept of “I want, I do, I get”. This concept is powerful because a successful mand always leads to the acquisition of reinforcement. Anything that's reliably reinforced will ultimately result in a higher frequency of the desired behavior.  I discuss the three augmentative communication systems and how to choose which one to use.  I also walk through each system's pros and cons, how to choose which words to start with, the steps of teaching mands, and how to transition to words. What's Inside:The importance of manding in teaching verbal communication and language skills.Three main forms of augmentative communication and their pros and cons.How to choose which words to start teaching.How to transition from mands to words.Mentioned In This Episode:Just 7 Steps YouTubeBook – Motivation and Reinforcement: Turning the Tables on Autism

According to the CDC, an estimated 40% of children with autism spectrum disorder are non-verbal. That means as many as 40% of children working through potential challenges related to autism are trying to do so without the full use of vocal language to help them. As many as 70% of childhood behavior problems come from a child not being able to adequately express their needs or desires. I've worked directly with many of these pre-verbal children who were unable to learn how to communicate through spoken word for many years, but we have found a way to guide them towards increased language ability using the verbal behavior approach to the science of behavioral analysis.Over the next two weeks, I'm taking you on a deep dive into the way I've been helping children both with and without a diagnosis of autism who struggle with language learn how to talk. Verbal communication is one of the most important aspects of life and it's how we share our thoughts and feelings. Because of my expertise in motivation, I've been able to put children in the positive state needed for them to develop critical vocal communication skills. Here, I discuss the benefits and limitations of speech and language therapy and why a behavior analyst could be an integral part of a child's learning to speak. I also share exactly what my process is so you can get similar help if you need it for your family.What's Inside:How behavioral analysis can aid in a child's learning to communicate verbally.How to use motivation and reinforcement to help in the learning process.My process of teaching verbal communication and language. Mentioned In This Episode:Just 7 Steps YouTubeJust7Steps.com/workshopJust7Steps.com/course

Reg Reynolds is an author with a Ph.D. in psychology. I've known about Reg for a long time, and he contacted me shortly after I wrote my first book. Reg has written quite a few books and the one most in line with what my audience would be interested in is called “Teaching Children with Autism: An ABA Primer”. Reg has since retired, but I think his work and perspective on the field of disabilities and education is very valuable to us all. Our conversation includes a discussion on changes we've seen over the years in terms of education and parenting, especially around disabilities and handling behavior challenges.Even before Reg was working in the field of ABA, he was paying attention to it. Here, he shares his thoughts on where things have gotten better or worse in our approach as practitioners as well as how he took an interest in ABA. We walk through what inspired Reg to write his book, his thoughts on my work and the 7 Steps, the importance of parent training and involvement, the concept of mini consequences, and the role of control in behavior analysis. If you're interested in buying a copy of Reg's book, head to the link below. What's Inside:How education and parenting around disabilities and behavior have changed over the years. The importance of parental training and involvement.Why mini consequences can be more effective than big punishments.Mentioned In This Episode:Just 7 Steps YouTubeBook – Teaching Children with Autism: An ABA Primer

As we close in on the end of 2022, I want to look back on the first year of the podcast. Here, I'll be sharing with you my favorite moments, quotes, and interview segments. I'm also excited to announce that as of December 1st, we've hit the 2,000-download milestone! It's a huge accomplishment and I'd like to thank each and every one of you for tuning in, sharing the links to the episodes with others, and engaging in discussion with your networks. We couldn't have hit this number without your help.We start our look back with the very first Just 7 Steps Podcast episode, which launched in July. My goal was, and is, to give folks around the world a chance to learn the benefits of the 7 Steps approach. We also recap other great episodes around homework, screen time, punishment, gaining your children's respect, token economies, and much more. I also recap my top quotes and segments from episodes throughout the year and look back on some of the amazing guests who have joined me. We're planning on covering so much more in 2023, so stay tuned!What's Inside:A lookback at the Just 7 Steps Podcast in 2022.Top quotes from the episodes.Favorite clips from interviews with podcast guests.Mentioned In This Episode:Just 7 Steps YouTubeSupport@Just7Steps.comJust7Steps.com/Workshop

It's our first holiday season at Just 7 Steps and it's been such a wonderful year so far. I searched the internet for someone who could provide us with valuable hints and suggestions as we head into this busy time of the year. It's important to make the holidays as peaceful, joyful, and fun for families of all kinds as possible. Leanne Page is a BCBA, parenting coach, author of two books, and mom to two elementary-aged kids. She shares the science of behavior with all parents to help them save their sanity and connect with their children through online workshops and fun challenges. You can check out her work through her website linked below. Almost 20 years ago, Leanne began her career as a special education teacher working with children on the autism spectrum. The first school district she worked in brought in BCBAs for training and she was inspired to jump into the field of ABA herself. She then shifted gears to help parents learn ABA, which is her focus today. Leanne and I discuss her favorite tips for families who are anxious about the holidays, including getting on the same page as your partner or spouse. Make sure to involve your kids in the planning process to get their input on activities. We also talk about giving kids an out or a break from holiday overstimulation and the four steps for teaching expected behaviors ahead of time.What's Inside:How and why Leanne got into training parents on ABA.Tips for families anxious about the upcoming holiday season.Why it's important to give your kids an out from overstimulation.The 4 steps of behavioral skills training.Mentioned In This Episode:Just 7 Steps YouTubeJust 7 Steps WebsiteParenting With ABA

It's been a busy year here at Just 7 Steps. In addition to starting this podcast, I've also been creating and sharing a weekly video blog, covering several interesting and helpful topics. Many of those topics weren't quite large enough to be their own podcast episode, but there were a ton of great tips that deserve to be shared. We've posted over 20 videos, ranging in topics from why kids won't behave to how to be a more confident parent. Here, I cover what I call my “greatest hits”, which include advice and tips from the blog. One of the first blogs dealt with the topic of preventing child meltdowns. I share what you can do to make them less likely and what to do before they come on. Another great topic was around how to stop your kids from fighting each other and I provide tips you can put into place immediately. I discuss how parents can stay calm in stressful situations, advice on how to get your kids to behave, why kids tend to always push our buttons and how to handle it, and how to infuse more confidence into your parenting.What's Inside:How to handle child meltdowns.How to stop your kids from fighting with each other.How to stay calm in stressful situations.How to get your kids to behave.Why kids like to push our buttons.How to be a more confident parent.Mentioned In This Episode:Just 7 Steps YouTubeJust7Steps.com/BlogJust7Steps.com/Quiz

One of my favorite things to do is interview parents of children who have benefited from behavioral support and education. Many of the parents I've met over the course of my career have proven to be the most tenacious in helping their kids find answers to their educational needs. Kelsey General is a mother to two amazing young boys with an autism diagnosis. Kelsey has searched far and wide to get the best help for her boys. She's worked directly with me, Dr. Megan Miller, and Dr. Mary Barbera and is a great source of information as someone who knows what it's like to develop and find a good support team for a special needs child.Kelsey shares her decision-making process around education, as her boys are now school-age. One of her sons is home-schooled and the other is in the public education system. We go through some of the challenges faced when working through problematic behaviors and partnering with professionals in the school system. We also discuss social interactions and homeschooling and why Kelsey doesn't believe her one son is missing out. Kelsey shares the journey of what it was like to get diagnoses for her sons and how she started down the path of getting the right support. The 7 Steps had a positive impact on Kelsey and her family, and she created a video to share her experience. To check out the video, head to the link below.What's Inside:How Kelsey made decisions around her children's education.Why homeschooling doesn't necessarily mean missing out on socialization.Kelsey's journey of receiving diagnoses and searching for the right support.How the 7 Steps approach helped Kelsey and her family.Advice for parents educating children with special needs.Mentioned In This Episode:Just 7 Steps YouTubeJust7Steps.com/QuizKelsey on InstagramA Parent's Perspective on the 7 Steps (Video Library)

Everybody wants to have a better relationship with their children. Is there a way to guide your children to adult-level skills and abilities while maintaining a strong and positive relationship that can carry you both through the rest of your lives? It's easy to become overwhelmed with how much we need to teach our kids, and that they'll need to accept that life doesn't always line up with their hopes, dreams, and desires. Children are a bit like unfinished products that need a ton of help and guidance as they grow. As babies, they rely on parents for just about everything and they can't make it in the real world without you. However, your role changes as they age and start to communicate what they want and need.Kids start to develop their own sense of independence, which continues and grows larger in their teenage years. The biggest challenge you'll face as a parent is getting them through all the important stages of development while keeping a strong, positive bond and relationship. While focusing on attachment is important, bending to every one of their wants and desires isn't the best way.  In our household, our parenting blueprint has enabled us to give our growing children perhaps more freedoms than other parents do, and it's not because we've been overly permissive or only focused on attachment. In fact, it's been more about setting appropriate boundaries and providing them with reasonable consequences. Here, I share some tips on how you too can create a positive, strong relationship with your kids that lasts a lifetime.What's Inside:Why focusing on attachment isn't the only key to strong parent-child relationships.Why strict, authoritarian parenting takes a toll on your child's feelings and self-esteem.The definition of a true, healthy parent-child relationship.The path to progress in creating a better relationship with your kids.Mentioned In This Episode:Just 7 Steps YouTubeJust7Steps.com/Quiz

In part three of our conversation with BCBA Steve Ward, we continue our helpful and informative discussion about motivation. If you missed parts one and two, make sure you check them out. Steve's been in the field since 1995 and has co-authored a total of five amazing books. We discuss the difference between prompting behavior and shaping behavior and knowing how to do both well is important. Here, Steve dives into the adjustment professionals need to make related to these two key processes and uncovers some of the nuances to help you discern between the two. Reinforcement sometimes involves a bit of creativity as motivation can look vastly different from child to child.Steve and I have a discussion around intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, and he explains the difference between the two. Ideally, our learners are motivated to do things because they appreciate the process, which could involve a sense of pride or that they're aware of their own progress. External motivators are outside of a natural inclination to complete a task, and although they're not always ideal, sometimes they're necessary. We can wish for our kids to be intrinsically motivated to do things, like clean their room, but it's more practical to introduce external motivators instead of waiting around for that natural drive. In many cases, external motivators can be tapered off as the child comes around to being intrinsically motivated. For example, kids eventually realize that a clean room helps them feel more organized and accomplished and as they get older, they'll be more inclined to do it naturally. What's Inside:Prompting vs shaping behavior and what professionals need to know.A discussion on intrinsic vs extrinsic motivation.How to deal with resistance to using external reinforcement.Steve's opinion on token economies.Mentioned In This Episode:Just 7 Steps YouTubeWhole Child ConsultingGood Learner Repertoires on Facebook

Last week, we started our interview with BCBA, Steve Ward and we had an extremely interesting conversation. It lasted so long that I decided to break the interview into three parts, and you won't want to miss any of them. If this is the first episode you've found, make sure to look at part one. Here, in part two with Steve, we discuss the common misconceptions of motivation. One is the assumption that contracts made can be sustained by positive reinforcement. However, sometimes, the real reason the task was completed was because they want to get it done with. For example, sometimes a child may empty the dishwasher and accept time with their phone afterwards, but they were motivated more by escape or avoidance.Steve and I dive into conditioning new interests in children and how it could help in a program for a developing child. Some kids have a narrow range of interests and with that comes a risk of satiation. Having something else to switch to is key and we can use motivation to expand interests. We talk about some of the dangers and pitfalls of this as well, and it's important to know what our kid's “hook” is in order to make it work. Steve and I also discuss how the principles of ABA can be used universally and the importance of basic ABA knowledge, regardless of whether there's a diagnosis.  What's Inside:Common misconceptions regarding motivation.The importance of conditioning new interests in children.How to introduce new interests and potential pitfalls.Using ABA principles and procedures for different types of learners.Mentioned In This Episode:Just 7 Steps YouTubeWhole Child ConsultingBook - What You Need To Know About Motivation And Teaching Games: An In-Depth Analysis

Steve Ward is a long-time friend of mine. We started hanging out with each other at the ABA conferences, bonded over our love of music (Steve plays piano, I play harmonica and ukulele), and we bonded over our love of motivation as a concept in education. One of Steve's quotes is on the back of my book, and I even mention Steve within the book as I tell a story about how he was one of the first people to introduce me to the advanced concepts of verbal behavior. Steve's been in the field since 1995 and is currently the co-owner of Whole Child Consulting, LLC. With his clients, Steve addresses everything from early communication and physical aggression to locational opportunities and inclusion in college courses. He's also the author of several books and has been featured in prestigious journals. The topic of part one in this series is motivating operations, and I believe motivation is the secret sauce to all learning. Without understanding motivation, we're often blind to the reasons kids may not want to engage or participate with us. Steve and I discuss how the motivation for teachers to instruct their students isn't the same source as the child has when it comes to paying attention and participation, which can lead to frustrations and challenges on both sides of the relationship. We talk about the signs of motivation in kids and what they look like. Steve also addresses some of the pitfalls and dangers parents and teachers can fall into when it comes to motivation.What's Inside:Why parents, teachers, and behavioral analysts need to understand motivation.How to identify motivation in children.Common motivation pitfalls and mistakes.Mentioned In This Episode:Just 7 Steps YouTubeWhole Child ConsultingBook - What You Need To Know About Motivation And Teaching Games: An In-Depth Analysis

My goal for the Just 7 Steps Podcast is to help share the value of evidence-based behavioral education with a wider, more diverse audience. Every parent of every child should know the secrets of developing a great relationship with their child while still being able to guide them to become their best selves. Parents have one of the most important jobs in the world, but the truth is most parents aren't given the useful, practical information they need to do the job effectively. Behavior analysis is the best tool we have in supporting education and raising our kids, but often it's kept hidden behind complex language and a restricted view of how it can be used. My goal is to bring this information to you in clear, interesting, and useful ways.Jon Przybyl is a bright and fun occupational therapist who received his undergraduate degree in Sport, Heath and Physical Education at Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo BC, Canada. He then went on to get his master's in occupational therapy from the University of Manitoba. After graduating in 2016, Jon returned to Kelowna, BC, and began working for Meridian Rehabilitation Consulting Inc. where he worked as an OT from 2016-2021. There, he worked primarily with a mixed population. In March of 2021, Jon opened his own practice where he focuses only on pediatrics (kids ages 2-19).Jon and I discuss how he integrated the 7-Steps into his therapy sessions, which made them fun and productive. He found that his sessions have fun participating in the various “trials”, and he's also able to share valuable information with parents. When parents are able to use strategies at home, it makes carryover much more successful. Jon explains occupational therapy and its associated goals. He also shares his initial concerns with ABA and how the 7 Steps altered his opinion. We recap the 7-Steps, talk about which ones had the most impact, and much more.What's Inside:How Jon integrates the 7 steps into his therapy practice.What occupational therapy and associated goals.A recap of the 7 Steps and which ones had the biggest impact on Jon.How parenting his own children has influenced Jon's work.The importance of relationships in therapy.Mentioned In This Episode:Just 7 Steps YouTubeJP Therapy

A Token economy is a motivation plan because it sets up contingencies that are designed to motivate and ultimately reinforce specific behavior. Does it immediately work for everyone? It would be great if it did but you have to utilize it strategically for it to really reinforce a specific behavior you're working on with your child or student. We've covered what a token plan is, how it works, and why it might not be working for you in part 1 and in part 2, I went step-by-step through the process of creating a token plan for yourself that is likely to avoid the common missteps and give you a strong motivational pull. We're wrapping everything up today in this final part. Today, we talk about how to get multiple sources of motivation through multi-level plans, how to start a smaller token plan for a child who is used to only working for immediate tangible reinforcement as well as my three levels (On-Off-In) of token acquisition that uses mini-consequences as part of the plan to help keep motivational pull for a child who is likely to try to take advantage of other plans.If you have not listened to parts 1 and 2, be sure to check them out so you get the full picture of Tokens. What's Inside:Multi-level plans and how to get sources of motivation from them.The benefit of daily reinforcement.The On-Off-In token acquisition plan. Resources to help with reinforcement, token planning & programs.Mentioned In This Episode:Just 7 Steps YouTubeJust7Steps.com/schoolJust7Steps.com/podcastRobertSchrammConsulting.comMotivation and Reinforcement book

Token plans are important, as they allow you to motivate your child without having to immediately offer cumbersome, tangible reinforcement for their good behavior. They allow you to teach your child about the world of earning and buying, and that effort equals reward. In part one of this two-part series, we discussed how tokens can be used to delay reinforcement in motivation plans. I also introduced token economies as a concept, explained their importance, and discussed some of the biggest mistakes that people tend to make when developing their own token plans.In part two, I'll be sharing the process of developing your very own token system. I discuss what you need to know, what you need to do, and what you need to assess to make sure you have one that is maximizing motivation for your child. I share how a token system can transfer value from the backup reinforcements and all of the steps you need to create a plan that offers maximum motivation. It starts by considering your goals and determining the behavior you want to motivate. Then, you'll need to decide what to use as tokens. I share how to introduce your token plan to your child's school and how to set parameters around how many tokens should be earned before reinforcement is provided. By the end of this episode, you'll be equipped with everything you need to get started on a successful token plan. What's Inside:How to develop your own token system.Steps to take to build a token plan.Ideas for potential tokens and how to set parameters.Common challenges when implementing token plans and what to avoid.https://just7steps.com/Mentioned In This Episode:Just 7 Steps YouTubeJust7Steps.com/schoolJust7Steps.com/workshopRobertSchrammConsulting.com

What is a token economy or system and why are they recommended by just about everyone who helps your child? Are they effective and if so, how? And why isn't it working for you? In this three-part series, we're covering all things token economies. By definition, a token economy is anything that is set up to allow you to offer a symbol as a promise of future reinforcement. It's a great way to delay giving tangible reinforcers or splitting up larger reinforcers to make them more useful in the home or school settings.In part one of this series, we introduce the concept of token economies, discuss the reasons why you might need one, and the major mistakes people make when trying to create them. We'll start by talking about motivation and why it's such a key component in reinforcing the desired behavior. Because we can't always give immediate reinforcers to kids to build behavior, using tokens can help set up a contingency and motivate the child to engage in the desired activity or task. I also provide real-world examples of how to use a token economy so you can think about ways to implement them in your own life. What's Inside:What a token economy is and how it works.The importance of motivators when building behaviors.Examples of when you should put a token system in place.Common mistakes made when creating a token system.Mentioned In This Episode:Just 7 Steps YouTubeJust7Steps.com/courseRobertSchrammConsulting.com

I'm continuing my discussion with Emily Wilson on the importance of assent in education. We last left off talking about my plans to rebrand Step Seven as a troubleshooting step. In other words, show your child that not following your most important instructions will not usually result in the same levels of reinforcement. All non-participation will be analyzed and problem solved, but it will also be respected. When we look at Step Seven as a troubleshooting step, it helps you consider all of your options of ways to respond when the first six steps haven't resulted in the assent you were hoping for. Emily provides a ton of great resources and influential people to follow to learn more about maintaining healthy boundaries and assent. More and more people are starting to bring this topic mainstream, which is great to see. We also discuss the state of the field of ABA and how to handle criticism and make improvements. Emily believes that one of the most beneficial things we can do for behavior analysts right now is to create analysts who can dissect composite skill sets in such a way that shaping is comfortable for the learner. We chat about how this perspective can be implemented, especially for kids outside of the autism spectrum and any diagnosis.What's Inside:More on using Step 7 as a troubleshooting step.Emily's recommended names to follow to learn more about boundaries and assent. Why behavioral principles are for every parent and child, independent of diagnosis.Mentioned In This Episode:Just 7 Steps YouTubeJust7Steps.com

Today on the Just 7 Steps Podcast, I get the distinct honor and pleasure to talk to a very fine and increasingly well-known behavior analyst, and deservedly so. I've been fortunate enough to have presented several times with Emily in recent years and one of the main topics of our discussions has been the importance of assent in education. The term “assent” refers to the physical demonstration of consent, meaning that if someone doesn't offer verbal or written consent, perhaps maybe they're not capable. We should strive for assent in our education programs and also look at the withdrawal of assent as communication instead of just refusal behavior.Emily Wilson has been a BCBA since 2016 and has worked with autistic individuals and other using the principles of ABA. Today, she's the current chair and founder of the Tidewater Behavioral Analysts Collaborative. She's also worked with Dr. Megan Miller, who was recently on the show as well. In this episode, Emily shares her personal experience with assent, as well as things she's received in her own training that didn't sit right with her. She also explains the difference between assent and consent and some of the contrasts between the current field of ABA and the past.Join us next week for Part 2 with Emily Wilson. What's Inside:Why assent is important in education.The difference between consent and assent.How Step 7 can be looked at as a troubleshooting step.Mentioned In This Episode:Just 7 Steps YouTubeJust7Steps.comThe 7 Steps with Dr. Megan Miller

Before I became a board-certified behavioral analyst, I was a special education teacher working in schools with the district's most challenging students. I've also raised my two daughters, and parenting my own children has had the least amount of influence on why I am a capable parent, educator, and behavior analyst. Having your own kids and being a good parent is a wonderful thing that anyone should be proud of, but it doesn't make you a parenting expert, and that's what I'm going to cover in today's episode.It is so important that people who have training, experience, and ability use important behavioral principles to guide their parenting decision-making. Let's face it, parents are struggling all around us and we see them everywhere. They're struggling to figure out what they need to do to get their children to make better choices and guide them towards growth and development. A huge part of the problem is where these parents are getting their information. Here, I discuss why some of the advice from so-called “parenting experts” is problematic. I cover why using an evidence-based plan is one of the best ways to tackle tough parenting issues. I'll also share with you some of the most common misconceptions about using both punishment and praise and how the 7 Steps can help you.What's Inside:Why some of today's advice from “parenting experts” is problematic.Misconceptions about punishment and praise.How the 7 Steps can assist you with making better parenting choices.Mentioned In This Episode:Just 7 Steps YouTubeJust7Steps.com/workshop

Today's guest is Paige, the mother of a young man named Aiden. Paige and her son live in sunny California and Paige is on the show today to talk about her experiences. She shares about her journey with Aiden and what ultimately led her to taking my parenting course on the seven steps. Aiden just turned 15 and has an autism diagnosis. He's also been diagnosed with language speech delay, ADHD, ODD, and OCD. He's extremely receptive with high communication but sending out information isn't one of his strengths.Paige discovered the seven steps through working with an ABA professional. This particular individual had a different approach than others and Paige soaked up everything she could from her. After taking the course, Paige's relationship with Aiden improved significantly. She actually wound up taking the course twice because she wanted to really understand the material. Paige especially recommends the course to people who might not be able to get into ABA services right away or who might not have the resources. I'm so glad Paige was able to join me today and hearing how the seven steps helped her and Aiden is an inspiration for other families as well. What's Inside:How Paige discovered the seven steps.Paige's experience taking the parenting course.How the seven steps have helped improve her relationship with her son.Mentioned In This Episode:Just 7 Steps YouTube

Whatever you define as screen time in your household, one thing families have in common is the desire to limit it without their kids putting up a fight. Regardless of how much screen time your kids currently get, I promise you there are families out there whose kids get less. The actual amount of time kids spend on their screens is less important than the fact that the amount is often far more than their parents would prefer. This episode covers all things screen time related, include to limit it without causing a fuss.If you're like most families, you probably have some limits set around screen time in your household. The average amount of time kids spend in front of screens has dramatically increased over the last several years, with the pandemic causing these rates to skyrocket. Here, we'll cover how to set limits that make sense for your family and how to gradually wean your kids off too much screen time in a practical manner. I share a simple sample plan based on a family I worked with, designed with a three-hour upper limit. You'll also get a list of aspects to go through as you're working through making adjustments. What's Inside:How to define how much screen time works for your family.A simple plan to limit screen time without a fuss.A list of aspects to consider as you're setting limits and making changes.Mentioned In This Episode:Just 7 Steps YouTubeJust7Steps.com/Workshop

Today, I have a very special guest on the show, Dr. Megan Miller. Dr. Miller was the co-founder of Navigation Behavioral Consulting and she served as the CEO of Peak ABA Solutions. She earned her Ph.D. in special education and behavior analysis at the Ohio State University in 2015. Dr. Miller's early training and behavior analysis occurred at the Cleveland Clinic Center for Autism as a volunteer intern in 2003. Since then, she's taught courses in behavior analysis and special education as an adjunct professor for several universities and co-authored journal articles published in several prestigious outlets. And even with all of that, she still has found time to help me write the very popular book, The Seven Steps to Instructional Control, which was first published back in 2014.Together, Dr. Miller and I discuss how she first became aware of the 7 Steps and how she got involved in further developing it with me. We also talk about how she's adjusted the way she's been using the steps in the more recent years, especially when it comes to more compassionate education and neurological diversity. We're currently working on a brand-new edition of the 7 Steps and Dr. Miller shares her thoughts on the value it brings in combination with other new developments in the field of ABA. She also shares some valuable advice for parents who might be struggling with their child's behavior. What's Inside:How Dr. Miller became involved in working with me and the 7 Steps.How to use the 7 Steps in today's environment of compassionate education and neurodiversity.Practical advice for parents struggling with a child's behavior, regardless of diagnosis.Mentioned In This Episode:Just7Steps on YouTube

How often do you notice when your children are doing the right thing? When you do notice it, do you reinforce it or tend to go about your business? Many parents only get involved when a kid's behavior starts to turn negative. If that's you, know you aren't alone. In this episode, I share all of the reasons why only focusing on the negative is a habit you need to break. Focusing only on negative behavior is easy when you have challenging children, but it's really important to see the positives in them every single day.When you focus solely on trying to reduce negative behavior, you can easily fall into the role of punisher from the child's perspective. This can make them feel like mom or dad only sees the worst in them, or they only receive guidance when they're being reprimanded or corrected. When you work on noticing and reinforcing all of the positive behaviors from your children, it increases that behavior and empowers them to make good choices on their own. What's Inside:Why only focusing on negative behavior is a bad habit.A real-life example of what happens when parents don't reinforce the positive.Why honoring the positive behavior in your kids helps them make better choices.Mentioned In This Episode:Just7Steps.com/workshopJust 7 Steps on YouTube

What is a behavior type, and do we all have them? What do behavior types say about our kids? Science shows us that every behavior, no matter how big or small, has a purpose or function. Behavior analysts typically group behavior purposes into useful functions that give us some kind of idea about how we would or wouldn't reinforce them. Many times, the purpose of a certain behavior is to get the attention of another person. Other times, a behavior might be used to remove or reduce the influence of others, or to escape. While some people tend to have set behavior types, others change their behavior from moment to moment. Behavior analysts often teach parents and therapists to try to always identify the specific function of a behavior and respond to it in a specific way. This can be difficult when behavior is often dependent on a changing environment. One of the benefits of using the 7 steps is that, once you've identified the behavior, you can simply focus on not reinforcing it, regardless of its type.What's Inside:The three main types of behavior and how to identify them.The fourth behavior type and why it's important to understand.How you can use the 7 Steps to reduce problematic behavior, regardless of the type.Mentioned In This Episode:Just7Steps.com/quiz

*Disclaimer: Around the 16-minute mark, Robert says, “but step seven does teach us to start with small, easy to achieve versions of the behavior…” – “Step seven” should be corrected to “step five”.Does your child live a mostly sedentary lifestyle? Would they rather spend their days on the computer or couch? If your kids aren't excited about physical activity, this episode will hopefully help you build a little more exercise into their schedule. Just like everything else, if someone doesn't like to do something naturally, we can't expect them to start enjoying it without question. If your kid doesn't like to be active, you're going to have to find a way for them to become more comfortable over time and be encouraged enough to exercise on their own.You can start by investing time in your child's current interests. See if there's anything you can incorporate to help them meet their physical activity goals. For example, if your child loves Disney characters, you could create a Disney-themed scavenger hunt to get them walking.  You could also use reinforcers, like a token system. With physical activity, it's smart to start small and increase the difficulty over time. Whatever your strategy, the goal is always to get your kids to do things without having to push or nag them.What's Inside:How to use your child's current interests to get them to exercise more.How using a token system can encourage physical activity.How starting small helps achieve easy, sustainable successes.Mentioned In This Episode:Just7Steps.com/workshop 

Have you ever wondered what exactly is considered punishment? Is it possible to avoid the use of punishment altogether when raising our children? And what about extinction? Here, I cover consequences and the things that give us reason to repeat a behavior or not in the future. The principle of punishment has such a negative connotation and is one of the most misunderstood terms in our language. The true scientific meaning for punishment is a consequence or technique that leads to a reduction in a specific behavior. There are three basic consequence types: reinforcement, punishment, and extinction. Some behavioral principles are preferable to others and deserve more prioritization. When it comes to positive and negative reinforcement, using a positive approach is always going to result in a better outcome. Community and cultural perspectives regarding behavior are always changing. As parents and guardians, we have to be able to see the world through these changing perspectives and stay aware of our biases. What's Inside:Definitions of the three basic consequence typesReduction techniques and how to use them to stop behaviorsWhy positive reinforcement is better than negative reinforcementMentioned In This Episode:Just7Steps.com/quiz

Ask parents what the worst part about raising school-age children is and, chances are, they'll say it's homework. After completing a full day of school, the last thing kids feel like doing is their homework, and the last thing parents want to do is fight them on it. No matter what behavior your kids are exhibiting towards homework, there are things you can do to motivate them, reinforce good behaviors, and apply the strategies I cover to your own unique situation.Using positive reinforcement helps produce more of the behavior you want to see in your kids, including getting them to finish their homework. Finding a motivation that's strong enough and occurs often enough can get your kid to complete their work on a day-by-day basis. Once you determine a good reinforcer, you'll then need to decide how often to provide it for it to be effective. Kids are motivated by a variety of different things, and no two kids are alike. Some children are motivated by their parents' attention, while others would rather spend time alone or play video games. Breaking down homework into smaller, more manageable chunks may also help get the job done.What's Inside:Why using positive reinforcement makes homework worth doing.How to identify reinforcers and when to make them available.Homework strategies to use with younger children.Mentioned In This Episode:Just7Steps.com/workshop

Have you ever felt like your kids don't respect you the way you think they should? Do you compare things to the relationship between you and your own parents? One of the most important things to look at are the root causes of respect and a parenting relationship. Much has changed since the parenting styles of the old days. The good news is that there are several ways to earn your child's respect without resorting to yelling, hitting, or intimidation. As parents, it's easy to confuse respect with enforcement of obedience. Respect is defined as a feeling of deep admiration for someone elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements. By reframing respect under this lens, you can demonstrate your value to your children as someone who deserves their respect instead of using intimidation. Archaic scare tactics that were frequently used by parents in the past can make you into someone kids want to avoid or are annoyed by, which isn't good when it comes to developing genuine bonds and relationships. Just like in adult relationships, if you're not likable, you'll truly never be respected.What's Inside:The definitions of respect and authority.The history of how respect was earned in parenting relationships of the past.Positive punishers and why using them works against you as a parent.Mentioned In This Episode:Just7Steps.com/workshopRobert Schramm on YouTube

Is your child's room a mess? Do you struggle to get them to take you seriously when you ask them to clean up? Room cleanliness is a big concern for many parents and it's one that I'm working on with my own kids as well. Whenever someone comes to me for help with a problem, I ask them who it is that will ultimately benefit from the behavior we want to see occur. Sometimes, we aren't sure, but it's important to understand what's preventing a child from doing the task at hand. It's usually either a problem with understanding the instructions or a lack of motivation. With cleaning rooms, quite often there's a lack of motivation, as the cleanroom benefits the parent more than the child. Kids aren't always naturally motivated by having a room that's neater or more hygienic, so you'll need to find alternative sources of motivation. Using positive reinforcement techniques allows us to help motivate our kids without turning into someone they want to avoid or escape from. The key to getting kids to do things without having to nag or yell is making sure they have good experiences that make them think, “wow, I'm really glad I did this.” Figure out what motivates your children and start to build healthy routines to see results.What's Inside:The difference between positive and negative reinforcementWhy using negative reinforcement can be counterproductiveWhat to do if a task is too big for reinforcement to workMentioned In This Episode:Just7Steps.com/workshop

Welcome to the Just 7 Steps Podcast! I'm Robert Schramm, board-certified behavioral analyst, educator, author, and developer of the 7 Steps to Successful Parenting. For over 20 years, I've been teaching parents and professionals how to support children in developing the values and priorities needed to live a successful life. In each episode of my podcast, you'll hear from experts in education, parenting, and behavioral analysis. Most importantly, you'll learn how to be your best in Just 7 Steps!In this first episode, I share how and why I created the 7 Steps, including how I started my career. I'll also share stories of how the 7 Steps have helped parents and how they can help you as well. These steps are the best way to interact with your children, helping you make good decisions when responding to their behavior. Whether you're the parent of a child who's been struggling with a child's behavior, or you're an educator or analyst familiar with my work, the 7 Steps are your best bet to finding the right answer. What's Inside:The story behind the creation of the 7 Steps.How the 7 Steps can help both parents and educators.Real examples of parenting with the 7 Steps.Mentioned In This Episode:Just7Steps.com/workshop