PBIS AT HOME
Step by Step
How do I use PBIS at home?
• Research shows that when behavior
expectations are clearly established and
taught in the home, children’s problem
behavior is prevented or reduced.
• If it works at school, it can work at home,
right?
Here are the steps…
1. Clear Expectations
2. Family Meeting
3. Use a Positive Reinforcement for
Appropriate Behaviors
4. Use of Consequences for Problem
Behaviors
Step 1 – Clear Expectations
• Create a behavior matrix that establishes
expected behaviors for essential routines
at home.
• Use the 3B’s that your children know from
school…
• Be Safe
• Be Responsible
• Be Respectful
Here’s an example of a teaching matrix for
home…
Expectations
Getting Up in
the Morning
Getting to
School
Doing My
Part/Chores
Having Fun
Together
Homework
Time
Wait at the
designated
area at the
bus stop.
Be Safe
Be
Responsible
Bring my
breakfast
dishes to the
sink.
Be
Respectful
Be quick in
the bathroom
so others can
use it too.
Leave on time
to be at
school on
time.
Meal Time
Getting
Ready for
Bed
Watch out for
sharp knives,
glass, or hot
dishes/stove.
Follow the
chore chart.
Put away
what I take
out.
Show good
sportsmanship.
Pack my
backpack so
it is ready for
tomorrow.
Help to clear
the table
Pick out my
clothes for
tomorrow.
Listen while
others speak.
Go to bed at
my
designated
bed time.
You may find that you don’t need to fill in every box of the matrix.
Choose the most “essential” expectations for your family.
Step 2 – Family Meeting
• It is a good idea to hold a Family Meeting
to present the matrix at home.
• Explain the expected behavior.
• (It is a good idea to get input from the
kids, but you don’t need their approval.
You’re the adult!)
• Demonstrate the expected behavior.
• Role play/practice the behavior.
• Explain the positive reinforces and the
consequences.
Step 3 – Positive Reinforcement
• It is essential to consistently provide
positive reinforcement of expected
behaviors.
• Some ideas:
• Point/sticker chart: One point/sticker is earned
for each expectation met. Then…
• The child could have a goal and earn a reward
for reaching the goal.
• There could be a “menu” of rewards, some big,
some small that a child can “buy” with their
points.
• There could be a Family Goal: “when we earn
50 points as a family we will…”
• What are some low cost/no cost reinforcers?
Will we have to give stickers and
points FOREVER?
• Well, you will have to do it for a while to
establish the routine.
• But over time you might find that you have
to change it up to keep it fresh, or add new
expectations for changing situations
(learning to play an instrument, adding a
pet to the family).
• Should kids just behave because they’re
earning a sticker? Of course not! A point
or a sticker is just a token. The real payoff
is the positive interaction.
Notes about Positive Reinforcement
• Verbal praise is the most effective tool for teaching and
maintaining positive behavior.
• Praise should be specific and clearly linked to the behavior
you are reinforcing.
• Say: “I like how you are picking up your toys”, instead of,
“Great job.”
• Say: “You must feel proud of your report card”, instead of,
“I am so proud of your report card.”
• Say: “Thanks for being responsible and putting away your
bike”, instead of “I LOVE you when you pick up your bike.”
• Say: “Great job following directions at the grocery store
today.” Don’t add: “Why can’t you do that every time?!”
Step 4 – Consequences at Home
• When problem behavior occurs it is
important to:
• Remain calm.
• Remind your child of the expectation.
• Re-teach/model and have your child
practice the expected behavior.
• Use consequences appropriately.
Decide ahead of time what
consequences there will be for problem
behaviors.
More about consequences…
• Give the minimum amount of attention
required to the misbehavior.
• Save talking for when they’re listening.
• Use a consequence that is age
appropriate and related to the
misbehavior.
• Related: left your bike out, lose your
bike privileges for tomorrow.
• Not related: left your bike out, no
dessert.
Will this really work?
• The good news: promoting positive
behaviors in the home using PBIS
principles is proven to make a positive
difference in 80% of families.
• The bad news (kind of):
1. Nothing works for everyone
2. You have to work at it and stay with it!
• The difference: YOU will feel more positive
when you focus on what is going right.
Your kids will respond to that positive
change in YOU and give you more
reasons to feel positive 
Parent Resources
• More information on PBIS
• www.pbis.org
• http://internet.savannah.chatham.k12.g
a.us/district/AcademicAffairs/PBIS/defa
ult.aspx
• http://www.wisconsinpbisnetwork.org/