Using shaping as a behavior technique can help your child develop a tolerance for something uncomfortable, like certain clothes.
What is Shaping?
Shaping is a behavioral technique that helps a person develop a new response with successive approximations of the desired behavior.
Example:
My son has a need to wear only shorts every day. This need goes into the winter, and life becomes difficult. I worry regarding recess, walking, waiting for the bus, and any time he is out. I worry about how this is looking in school as well. What can I do to get him to wear long pants?
Using Shaping for Developing New Responses
There are a number of different options to try, but one that may help is to try “zip-off leg” pants. After having them wear the pants with the leg zipped off, zip the bottom of the leg on but fold it up. Starting in an environment that is most comfortable for them, gradually increase the length of time they are wearing the pants as well.
Shape their ability to tolerate the longer pants. Shaping is a technique that conditions a person to develop a new response with successive approximations of the desired behavior. By slowly adding material to their current pant length, you may shape their ability to tolerate wearing longer pants.
Quick Facts
- Child’s Age: 3-13
- Planning Effort: Low
- Difficulty Level: Moderate
Pre-requisites
The necessary materials (i.e., zip-off leg pants)
Process for Shaping Behavior for Clothing Challenges
- Purchase zip-off leg pants for your child.
- Allow them to wear them with the legs zipped off for several days.
- Zip on the bottom of the pants and fold them up so they are a bit longer. You can use Velcro or ties to keep them folded up.
- Positively reinforce your child for wearing the longer pants with a highly desirable item.
- After approximately 1-2 weeks, fold the legs down another inch or two. Continue these steps until your child is wearing long pants.
- Continue with reinforcement for wearing longer pants and transition to other pants.
This strategy of shaping for clothing challenges can be translated to other clothing types as well, not just pants. If your child / student prefers to wear sleeveless tops but you worry about them being cold in the winter months, consider adding light layers with sleeves of gradually longer lengths for periods of time that your child will tolerate. Similarly, follow the steps above to help your child or student adapt to the added material to ensure they are able to wear clothing that protects them in the colder months, but doesn’t make them uncomfortable to wear.
Shaping Resources
This resource was authored by Watson Institute Special Education Consultant, Lisa Plastino, M.Ed.
If you have questions or concerns about the Watson Institute’s use of this information, please contact us.