Personal Space
Reinforcement and Tracking Ideas
Personal space improvements can be a bit hard to quantify, but you can still reinforce and track progress in creative ways.
💬Start by praising every instance of good spacing: “I noticed you stood in line without bumping into the person in front of you – great job!”
This immediate feedback helps them connect the abstract behavior to positive outcomes.
Consider a “space hero” reward chart – a simple chart where you put a sticker or checkmark each time your child remembered to keep a good distance in a situation that used to be problematic. For example, if playdates are usually an issue, every playdate where they respected personal space most of the time earns a sticker. After a few stickers, reward them with something they value (even just one-on-one time doing a special activity).
💬Another idea is to use a token system tied to specific goals: “Today, I will try to not stand too close to my teacher.”
If they achieve it, they get a token toward a larger reward. You could also involve the child in self-monitoring if they’re old enough – maybe a simple daily reflection: “Did I remember personal space today? Yes/No” – and reward honesty and effort.
Teachers or therapists sometimes use “proximity feedback” where they silently signal if a child is at a good distance or not (like giving a thumbs-up when the child is giving appropriate space). If your child responds to that, you can agree on a subtle signal for public settings (e.g., you tug your ear to indicate “check your space”). When they adjust correctly after seeing the signal, later give them praise or a point for responding.
To track progress, you might keep a small journal of incidents.
Note context: Was it during play with friends? During adult conversation?
Transition times? You might find, for instance, that your child is now great at giving kids space, but still stands too close to adults (or vice versa).
This can guide targeted teaching. Also, sometimes tracking helps you see improvement that feels slow. Over a month, maybe the daily notes of “had to remind 5 times” drop to “had to remind 2 times” – a win worth celebrating! Share progress with your child.
💬Show them how far they’ve come: “Look, last month you were getting too close almost every day, but this week I only had to remind you twice! You’re getting it!”
Positive reinforcement systems, whether charts or tokens, should be phased out gradually once the habit forms – but at the start, they provide that extra motivation and clarity.
