Let’s Make a Contract
A Positive Way to Change Your Child’s Behavior
0-3
FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS
208 Pages, 7 x 9
Formats: Paperback, ebook: EPUB
Paperback, $19.95 (US $19.95) (CA $26.95)
Publication Date: May 2022
ISBN 9781951412517
Overview
Let’s Make a Contract presents a straightforward, positive, science-based strategy that can be immediately put into practice for the benefit of all families.When a child is struggling with a persistent behavior problem, signing a contract can be a surprisingly simple solution with immediate results, including more peaceful family dynamics. To help families create contracts as a collaborative process, Let’s Make a Contract offers an innovative combination of how-to text for parents and illustrated stories for children.
For parents, Let’s Make a Contract describes a straightforward, four-step solution called behavioral contracting, a research-based technique with proven real-world success. While contracts are a tool that can benefit anyone, they’re particularly useful with children on the autism spectrum, or with learning or developmental disabilities, who benefit from understanding clear expectations and receiving positive feedback and rewards.
For children, the book’s beautifully illustrated stories show a diverse group of families using contracts to address common problems. Questions after each story are designed to spark age-appropriate discussions. Sample contracting forms and supporting materials are provided in the book and also on a companion website.
Reviews
“Colorful and easy to implement, this book will be a resource for parents and guardians looking to try behavior contracting in their homes.” —Library Journal“Wow, Jill Dardig and Bill Heward have crafted a terrific resource for parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and anyone else who spends time with kids. Whether it be academic behaviors, household chores, or personal goals, Let’s Make a Contract is bound to get you and your kids excited about getting things done.” —Janet S. Twyman, Ph.D., BCBA, LBA, Founder, blast (A Learning Sciences Company)
“Let’s Make a Contract absolutely inspired me. The day after reading it, I made some changes in my parenting approach and had a wonderful day with my nonverbal son, following a handful of really tough days.” —Lorri Unumb, CEO, Council of Autism Service Providers
“Let’s Make a Contract is a thorough and engaging guide for helping any family turn a negative behavioral situation into a positive one. Lots of practical examples, illustrations, and sample contracts make what could be a complex topic easy to read and follow.” —Lynn Kern Koegel, Ph.D., Professor, Stanford School of Medicine; Coauthor, Recipient, Children’s Television Workshop Sesame Street Award
“This book touches my heart. With tenderness and respect, Drs. Dardig and Heward invite families to embark on a journey of intentional and shared growth. They provide important and practical guidance to help parents and children navigate possible actions, expectations, and consequences.” —Shahla Ala’i-Rosales, Ph.D., BCBA-D, Family Harmony Researcher, University of North Texas
“In a captivating story-telling style, Jill Dardig and Bill Heward have masterfully crafted practical guidelines for developing and implementing behavioral contracts. In their hands, this technique—which is solidly grounded on scientific principles— becomes a fun learning opportunity for any family member to succeed at changing a behavior or attaining a personal goal.” —Amiris Dipuglia, MD, BCBA, Educational/Parent Consultant, Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network
“If you are a parent, read this book today. Humorous vignettes bring to life a straightforward roadmap for how to establish healthy communication, goal setting, and positive behavior in all family members.” —Bridget A. Taylor, PsyD., BCBA-D, Co-founder and CEO of Alpine Learning Group
“As a special education teacher and a parent of a child with a disability, I have found that managing behaviors in children and young adults is possible with the right tools. Let’s Make a Contract is in that must-have category.” —Danielle M. Kovach, Ed.D., President, Council for Exceptional Children
Author Biography
Jill C. Dardig is Professor Emerita of Education at Ohio Dominican University where she trained special education teachers for 30 years. During a sabbatical, Jill was a consultant at Centro da Vilariñha, a program that taught daily living and vocational skills to teenagers and young adults with developmental disabilities, in Porto, Portugal. She has been a visiting professor at Keio University in Tokyo, Japan and presented workshops for teachers and parents in Europe, South America, and Asia. Dr. Dardig has written several books and other publications about and for parents including Involving Parents of Students with Special Needs: 25 Ready-to-Use Strategies (Corwin Press, 2008). Jill has an A.B. from Mount Holyoke College and an M.Ed. and an Ed.D. from the University of Massachusetts.
William L. Heward is Professor Emeritus in the College of Education and Human Ecology at Ohio State University. He has taught at universities in Brazil, Japan, Portugal, and Singapore and given lectures and workshops in 22 other countries. A Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA-D) and Past President of the Association for Behavior Analysis International, Dr. Heward’s publications include co-authoring the books, Applied Behavior Analysis (3rd ed., Pearson, 2020) and Exceptional Children: An Introduction to Special Education (12th ed., Pearson, 2022). Bill has also written for the popular market. Some Are Called Clowns (Crowell, 1974) chronicled his five summers as a pitcher for the Indianapolis Clowns, the last of the barnstorming baseball teams. Bill has a B.A. from Western Michigan University and an Ed.D. from the University of Massachusetts.
Early in their careers, Jill and Bill helped found an early intervention program for children with autism and other disabilities in western Massachusetts. Married for 45 years, Jill and Bill live in Worthington, Ohio.
