Encouraging independent play: Verbal versus nonverbal reinforcement

Two types of positive reinforcement were compared to examine their effectiveness in encouraging independent play in young children. A within-subjects design was used with mothers and their 30- to 42-month-old children. Experimental conditions varied according to type of positive feedback parents were instructed to give, such that praise and nonverbal affection strategies were used in alternate conditions and counterbalanced for order of presentation. Paired samples mean comparisons indicated no difference in children's behaviors across study conditions. However, differences were found between the first and second halves within each condition. Lower rates of independent play were found in the latter halves of both conditions. In the nonverbal condition, higher amounts of solicitation for attention and negative affect were found in the second half of the condition. In addition, correlation analyses suggested relations between child behavior and adjustment problems and observed behavior under various conditions of the study