Jill C. Dardig - Lets Make a Contract: A Positive Way to Change Your Childs Behavior

Praise for Lets Make a Contract

Lets 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. The concepts are explained in plain language, and the scenarios are so relatable for any parent. I highly recommend this book for parents of neurodiverse and neurotypical kids.

Lorri Unumb, CEO, Council of Autism Service Providers

If 30 years of working with children and families have taught me anything, its that parents who respect their childrens views and use their input, especially regarding the clarity of parental expectations and the fairness of rewards/recognitions for meeting them, have happier families. There are many ways to achieve this and one of the most powerful and efficient is the behavioral contract. For a clear, easy to understand (and implement) guide, look no further than this delightful book by two universally respected veterans of the child and family field.

Patrick C. Friman, Ph.D., ABPP, Vice President of Behavioral Health, Boys Town

Lets Make a Contract is a thorough and engaging guide for helping any family turn a negative behavioral situation into a positive one through contracting. This book clearly outlines steps for developing effective contracts and gives practical examples to identify potential pitfalls, so that the contract can be successfully implemented. 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, Overcoming Autism and Growing Up on the Spectrum; Recipient, Childrens 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. Above all, they model the clarity, affection, and responsibility that characterizes the best of behavior change programs.

Shahla Alai-Rosales, Ph.D., BCBA-D, Family Harmony Researcher, University of North Texas

Wow, Jill Dardig and Bill Heward have crafted a terrific resource for parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and anyone else who spends time with kids. Through humorous, realistic vignettes, Lets Make a Contract shares a time-tested strategycontractingfor promoting positive behavior, shared responsibility, and a bit of self-management. Whether it be academic behaviors, household chores, or personal goals, Lets 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)

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 techniquewhich is solidly grounded on scientific principlesbecomes a fun learning opportunity for any family member to succeed at changing a behavior or attaining a personal goal. While this wonderful resource is intended for parents, its equally useful for other caregivers and professionals who want a proven, positive approach to behavior change.

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. Dr. Dardig and Dr. Heward transform research-based procedures into positive parenting tools for raising children who take responsibility for their own behavior. An earlier version of this book remains in print in an astounding 10 languages. While the examples in Lets Make a Contract are thoroughly modernized, the principles are the same that have helped parents succeed for more than 45 years.

Bridget A. Taylor, PsyD., BCBA-D, Co-founder and CEO of Alpine Learning Group

Lets Make a Contract is an example of the best that the science of behavior has to offer families. The authors provide practical and positive guidance to parents and caregivers on what to do when a child is struggling with behavior. The variety of family dynamics and issues that the book covers provide an abundance of relevantand realisticinformation.

Fernando Armendariz, Ph.D., BCBA-D, Director, FABAS

In Lets Make a Contract, Jill Dardig and Bill Heward do an amazing job of presenting a step-by-step approach to help parents and children improve their lives through contracts. The stories and sample forms make it easy for parents (and professionals) to create and adapt contracts for children of any age or ability level.

Mary Lynch Barbera, Ph.D., RN, BCBA-D, Best-Selling Author, Turn Autism Around

In this fine book, there is a consistent invitation to see the world through the eyes of each family member, and by doing so, develop a greater understanding of each other and create a plan to improve the life of the family as a whole.

Darnell Lattal, Ph.D., CEO ABA Technologies

I wholeheartedly recommend this much-needed book that showcases the journey of families using contracts to address a diverse array of behaviors. Well-illustrated and narrated, the authors insights, experiences, and compassion shine through. This clever book will be helpful to both parents and professionals alike.

David Celiberti, Ph.D., BCBA-D, Executive Director, Association for Science in Autism Treatment

Practical and without unnecessary jargon, Lets Make a Contract focuses on building positive relationships between children and their parents, rather than simply trying to stop bad behavior or build compliance. The clarity of the writing and the use of common examples of stressors in family life make this book a wonderful resource. I highly recommend this book to parents, educators, and anyone who wants to improve the quality of relationships among family members.

Robert K. Ross, Ed.D., BCBA-D, LABA, Chief Clinical Officer, Beacon ABA Services of Massachusetts and Connecticut

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. Lets Make a Contract is in that must-have category. I put the step-by-step directions to the test by creating a contract with my classroom students when we implemented virtual learning. My students clearly understanding the expectations and rewards based on the contract heavily contributed to making our virtual learning a success.

Danielle M. Kovach, Ed.D., President, Council for Exceptional Children

Copyright 2022 by Jill C. Dardig and William L. Heward.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher.

ISBN: 978-1-951412-51-7

Ebook ISBN: 978-1-951412-71-5

LCCN: 2021911392