Let's Make a Contract
Let's Make a Contract
Let's Make a Contract
Let's Make a Contract
Let's Make a Contract
Let's Make a Contract
Let's Make a Contract

Jill C. Dardig • William L. Heward

Let's Make a Contract

A Positive Way to Change Your Child's Behavior
$19.95
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About the Book

"Colorful and easy to implement, this book will be a resource for parents and guardians looking to try behavior contracting in their homes." —Library Journal

When a child is struggling with a behavior challenge or wants to learn a new skill, a contract can be a surprisingly effective solution that leads to more peaceful family dynamics. To help families create contracts as a collaborative process, Let’s Make a Contract offers an innovative combination of how-to text for parents and illustrated stories for children. 

Let’s Make a Contract describes a straightforward, four-step solution called behavioral contracting, a research-based technique with proven real-world success. Contracts are a tool that can benefit anyone, but they’re particularly useful for:

  • Autistic children
  • Children with learning or developmental disabilities
  • Children who benefit from clear expectations and receiving positive feedback and rewards

The book’s beautifully illustrated stories show a diverse group of families using contracts to address common problems such as:

  • Completing chores or homework
  • Getting along with siblings
  • Becoming independent
  • Achieving personal goals

Questions after each story are designed to spark age-appropriate discussions. 

Sample contracting forms and supporting materials are provided in the book and also on a companion website.

Awards and Press

Lynn Kern Koegel

Ph.D.

Let’s Make a Contract is a thorough and engaging guide for helping any family turn a negative behavioral situation into a positive one. Lots of practical examples, illustrations, and sample contracts make what could be a complex topic easy to read and follow.

Shahla Alarsquoi-Rosales

Ph.D.

This book touches my heart. With tenderness and respect, Drs. Dardig and Heward invite families to embark on a journey of intentional and shared growth. They provide important and practical guidance to help parents and children navigate possible actions, expectations, and consequences.

Bridget A. Taylor

PsyD.

If you are a parent, read this book today. Humorous vignettes bring to life a straightforward roadmap for how to establish healthy communication, goal setting, and positive behavior in all family members.

Library Journal

Colorful and easy to implement, this book will be a resource for parents and guardians looking to try behavior contracting in their homes.

Foreword Reviews

Sharing the insights and skills needed to craft contracts between parents and children, so that both can get what matters to them, this pragmatic book draws on psychological, behavioral, and educational research to promote collaboration and clear communication.

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Association for Science in Autism Treatment

Through the storytelling, clear and straightforward examples provided, and ongoing emphasis on open and direct communication among families, Dardig and Heward have set the stage for their hope to become a reality, handing families the tools they need to improve their relationships through contracting.

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Patrick C. Friman

Ph.D.

For a clear, easy to understand (and implement) guide, look no further than this delightful book by two universally respected veterans of the child and family field.

Mary Lynch Barbera

Ph.D.

In Let’s Make a Contract, Jill Dardig and Bill Heward do an amazing job of presenting a step-by-step approach to help parents and children improve their lives through contracts.

Lorri Unumb

CEO

Let’s Make a Contract absolutely inspired me. The day after reading it, I renewed my commitment to apply these principles with my nonverbal son and saw immediate results.

Janet S. Twyman

Ph.D.

Wow, Dardig and Heward have crafted a terrific resource for parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and anyone who spends time with kids.

Amiris Dipuglia - MD

BCBA

In a captivating story-telling style, Jill Dardig and Bill Heward have masterfully crafted practical guidelines for developing and implementing behavioral contracts....this technique...becomes a fun learning opportunity for any family member to succeed at changing a behavior or attaining a personal goal.

Danielle M. Kovach

Ed.D.

As a special education teacher and a parent of a child with a disability, I have found that managing behaviors in children and young adults is possible with the right tools. Let’s Make a Contract is in that must-have category.

Darnell Lattal

In this fine book, there is a consistent invitation to see the world through the eyes of each family member....develop a greater understanding of each other and create a plan to improve the life of the family as a whole.

Meet the Author

Jill C. Dardig is Professor Emerita of Education at Ohio Dominican University where she trained special education teachers for 3 years. During a sabbatical, Jill was a consultant at Centro da Vilariñha, a program that taught daily living and vocational skills to teenagers and young adults with developmental disabilities, in Porto, Portugal. She has been a visiting professor at Keio University in Tokyo, Japan and presented workshops for teachers and parents in Europe, South America, and Asia. Dr. Dardig has written several books and other publications about and for parents including Involving Parents of Students with Special Needs: 25 Ready-to-Use Strategies (Corwin Press, 28). Jill has an A.B. from Mount Holyoke College and an M.Ed. and an Ed.D. from the University of Massachusetts.

Early in their careers, Jill and Bill helped found an early intervention program for children with autism and other disabilities in western Massachusetts. 
Married for 45 years, Jill and Bill live in Worthington, Ohio.

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Meet the Author

William L. Heward is Professor Emeritus in the College of Education and Human Ecology at Ohio State University. He has taught at universities in Brazil, Japan, Portugal, and Singapore and given lectures and workshops in 22 other countries. A Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA-D) and Past President of the Association for Behavior Analysis International, Dr. Heward’s publications include co-authoring the books, Applied Behavior Analysis (3rd ed., Pearson, 22) and Exceptional Children: An Introduction to Special Education (12th ed., Pearson, 222). Bill has also written for the popular market. Some Are Called Clowns (Crowell, 1974) chronicled his five summers as a pitcher for the Indianapolis Clowns, the last of the barnstorming baseball teams. Bill has a B.A. from Western Michigan University and an Ed.D. from the University of Massachusetts.
 
Early in their careers, Jill and Bill helped found an early intervention program for children with autism and other disabilities in western Massachusetts. 
Married for 45 years, Jill and Bill live in Worthington, Ohio.

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