Using intermittent reinforcement to program maintenance of verbal/nonverbal correspondence.

The team worked with preschoolers during snack time. First they taught the kids to say "I will pick the healthy snack" and then do it.

After each child matched words and actions, the teachers switched from giving a sticker every time to giving one only sometimes. They watched to see if good choices lasted when rewards were rare.

Even with stickers now and then, every child kept picking fruit or milk. When the teachers stopped all rewards, the healthy choices still stuck.

Intermittent reinforcement made the new habit strong without needing a prize every time.

Al-Jawahiri et al. (2019) looked at 28 later studies and found the same pattern: thinning rewards keeps gains if the child can talk about the task.

Alsop et al. (1995) seems to disagree. Their adults followed instructions worse when verbal praise came only sometimes. The gap closes when you see the 1995 study tested brand-new instructions, while Matthews et al. (1987) waited until the rule was already a habit.

Herman et al. (1971) showed the same trick works for printing: intermittent praise plus quick play kept every kindergartner writing neatly.

You can fade edible or sticker rewards fast once a child can state the rule and do it. Move to praise or tokens only twice per session while the skill stays solid. This saves you time and cuts satiation while keeping the behavior in place.