How the gym can apply to parenting

 The gym can apply to parenting??

    YES! absolutely

    We talked about coaching lifters in the weight room and how various instructions can apply. Now, we apply coaching principles into parenting. As any parent will tell you rewards, and punishment are implemented in a way to either reinforce "good" behavior or to deter "bad" behavior.... how do you do that? Glad you asked. I'll break it down.

Positive Reinforcement

    This is an easy one for the parents to implement (along with gym behavior). Positive reinforcement is a certain behavior that is followed by a positive action. The kiddos were good at the store? Giving them a candy bar reinforces that behavior. An action that you as the parent deemed good is reinforced by a candy bar. In gym life putting the weights back after using them is a "good behavior" reinforcing that behavior with a high five is an example of positive reinforcement. Often times in sports coaches use decals or stickers (The Ohio State football program is an excellent example).

Negative reinforcement

    Negative reinforcement on the other hand is the removal of an act that is unpleasant. Kids don't like vegetables? eat one bit then you don't have to eat them anymore. (Kind of ironic that a fitness article uses not eating vegetables as an example). In the gym environment if you train hard in the gym then no cardio after. Not only do I use this with my kiddo's I use it in the Army as well. If my students do something well then, I remove something bad. If the class participates in a discussion, then I'll omit the PowerPoint slides.

Positive Punishment

    If we have tools in our toolbox that use reinforcement, then on the opposite end of the spectrum is punishment. Positive Punishment is the use of an act, or object following the "bad" behavior. Kid talks back then do pushups. For the gym if someone forgets to clean the equipment after usage then having them clean the entire gym is an example of positive punishment. In my classroom is a student uses a swear word then they have to perform pushups.

Negative Punishment  

    Negative reinforcement is the removal of something valued from a "bad" behavior. With parenting this is one of the more translatable examples, "Do your homework, or no video games", "If you don't wear a helmet then I'm taking away your bike. "The removal of something valued (video games/bike) makes it negative punishment. You see this all the time in sports as well, take basketball for example. I player continuously takes bad shots then the coach reduces their playing time. For the weight room removing weight room privileges is a prime example.

    I'm not expert on parenting or coaching athletes, but I do apply these to Instructing. In the military it is very easy to fall into the trap of taking away things or punishing "bad" behavior. Leave your equipment out? do pushups (positive punishment). Come to formation late? great we will stay late (removal of free time.... negative punishment). As a former Drill Sergeant, I used punishment quite extensively. What I have found out is that reinforcing behavior yields better results. Do something well? I'll write up an award for you (Positive Reinforcement), sound off during the prep drill? sweet we will only perform five repetitions of each exercise (negative reinforcement).