What is a Natural Consequence?
Actively working on changing a child’s behavior involves two simultaneous approaches that target both increasing positive behaviors and decreasing negative behaviors. Positive behaviors are most effectively increased through the use of praise or rewards when those specific behaviors are exhibited, while negative behaviors are most effectively decreased through the use of active ignoring or implementing consequences.
Consequences can be implemented in different ways, one of which includes natural consequences. Simply put, a natural consequence occurs when a parent chooses not to intervene and instead allows the child to experience the direct consequences of their actions. Some examples of natural consequences include the following:
- Allow a child to not do their homework at night and the natural consequence is that if it is not completed before the next school day, he will have to stay inside and complete it during recess.
- Allow a teenager to stay up past her bedtime and the natural consequence is that if she stays up too late, she will be tired the next day.
- Allow a child to go outside without a coat on in cold weather (unless it is a safety risk) and the natural consequence is that he will be cold.
- Allow a teenager to spend money earned how they would like to and the natural consequence is that if she does so frivolously, she will not have enough money to get something of greater value that she wants to buy in the future.
