By Diane Cullinane M.D.

“‘Good job!’ is a phrase used frequently during treatment sessions with autistic children.

What message does a child receive from hearing, ‘Good Job!’? We hope they hear our interest, encouragement and approval. However, when ‘Good Job!’ becomes a habit, is it still successful in conveying this meaning?

Or, does it simply signal that the adult is in control, with specific goals in mind and is directing the child towards those behaviors, regardless of the child’s intention? Can frequent “Good Job!’ responses undermine a child’s initiative, creativity and broader learning? Does it interfere with a more robust engagement?”

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Diane Cullinane, M.D. is a developmental pediatrician and the founder of the Pasadena Child Development Center, and Senior Faculty for the Interdisciplinary Council for Developmental and Learning Disorders (ICDL). She is also the author of Behavioral challenges in children with autism and other special needs: The developmental approach (2016). W.W.Norton & Co.