Teaching New Skills Step-by-Step
Shaping involves reinforcing successive approximations of a target behavior. You use it when the client cannot currently perform the skill at all.
Successive Approximations
If teaching a child to say "Bubble," you might first reinforce "Buh." Once they master "Buh," you stop reinforcing it and only reinforce "Bub." Then "Bubble." You raise the bar gradually.
Don't Stay Too Long
If you reinforce an approximation for too long, the client might get stuck there. You must keep moving toward the terminal behavior. Tempo matters.
When to Use Shaping
Use shaping for vocalizations, handwriting, or complex motor skills. Do not use it for problem behaviors! You don't want to shape a tantrum into a bigger tantrum. Use it for skill acquisition.