Intrinsic Motivation

Children with behavioral challenges often have an external reward system. The problem with this is, as they get older, is that they expect an external reward for most things they do that is expected of them (i.e. verbal praise, sticker, m&ms).

The idea behind natural consequences is to encourage internal motivation (to do something before you want to do it).

For example.: my 4 year old may not want to wear her jacket on a snowy day, but she also knows she won’t like being cold. She wears her jacket and the natural consequence is that she’ll be kept warm and comfortable.