The Internet Utilized as a Behavior Intervention

Yes, the internet is the current tool being utilized for education, communications, sales and entertainment. Ebay, You Tube, Facebook etc, everything is going online !  So it does not surprise me that parents are starting to use this type of media mode for behavior interventions regarding their children’s issues and problematic behaviors.

 

Personally, as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst who works with parents, I think that this type of an intervention is kinda extreme.  Though I can understand why parents get to this frustrated point. However, I would never suggest this.

 

 

Angry Father Nails Xbox To Tree

by Will Safer, posted Aug 19th 2008 at 12:46PM

“What do you do when your kids get out of hand while playing with their Xbox? Your options are:

1.                               A time out.

2.                              No dessert.

3.                              Nail that Xbox to a tree, dammit!

 

Yes, option number three was in order for a Mechanicsville, Va., father, who apparently had enough of his kids’ shenanigans/back talk/zombie-like addiction to Halo. Out into the backyard and up onto the tree the Xbox went.Lest you think this punishment too harsh, the kids’ mother — who by the way posted this story on CNN’s ireport Web site — says the action was appropriate and that the kids don’t hate their dad.

The shattered unit is available now on Ebay, with half the proceeds from the sale going toward the Hanover County School system and the other half to the kids’ college fund. In return, you get a pile of junk, since we’re pretty sure nailing a gaming system to a tree trunk invalidates the warranty. [From: Joystiq.com]“

 

  Source: http://www.switched.com/2008/08/19/angry-father-nails-xbox-to-tree/?icid=200100397×1207821343x1200429189

 

It would be interesting to see if after the ebay / CNN video coverage is all over, will these kids listen (respect) their parents directions / commands?  (improve their behaviors) Will this type of intervention be effective in the long run?

 

To Parents:

Please note, there are better ways to handle problematic behaviors and/or excessive Xbox playing than this particular route.

Tags: discipline, ebay, excessive, Facebook, intervention, issues, problems, promblematic, video games, Xbox, You Tube