The swat had hardly made contact and did not invoke further crying. Quite the contrary, the little girl immediately dried it up and turned to play. Now you may be impressed with this level of control. Many of you would be glad to have as much control as this mother. But I want you to know that this is only half training.
Children repeat actions that give some measure of reward.
The reward need not come every time. One time out of ten is enough for a child to keep trying. That mother is either not consistent, or her responses are not sufficiently negative. The child would stop her demanding wail and her stumbling, pitiful presentation to mother if it were always without reward. Back to our illustration.