Teaching animals cool tricks is fun and exciting, but can we teach our children just like we teach our dogs? One way to train pets is clicker training. Clicker training is using short clicking noises when an animal does something right and is combined with positive reinforcement. It is effective and doesn't harm animals. Here is a video of some clicker trained animals:
It seems so simple to teach the animals to do cool things when you watch the video, and with the right training, you can even do it too. Karen Pryor is one of the leading figures in clicker training. Here is the link to Pryor's clicker training website with lots of cool information about clicker training.
Clicker training is on the rise, and Karen Pryor most certainly swears by it. Some people even say you can clicker train young athletes, but will parents agree with the new method of teaching their children like they teach their dogs? What's next--clicker training in school, the work place, and with your husband or wife?
I know one thing: If I ever clicker train my children, I need to see positive research results first. Humans are obviously smarter than animals, but clicker training seems hardly any different than when we say "good boy" after a child uses a toilet for the first time. I guess we'll see in the future whether or not clicker training is effective. Until then, I won't be clicker training any of my children.
