" The essence of motivation is finding out what the natural interest of the child is, what they like they do.  Don’t have any preconceived notions.  Don’t think in terms of “rewards.”  The stimulus/reward approach is a very limited approach, which was based on research done with animal, not human, models and doesn’t encompass empathy and development of thought, etc.  The approach does work, to some degree, but it tends to keep the child in a rote, repetitive mode.  When a child is “stimming,” think of it as an opportunity to identify motivation to deepen his or her engagement.  Motivation is basically a good observer seeing what the child likes and building on this natural interest to help the child learn what he needs to learn.  Thus, motivation is finding out what the child naturally enjoys doing and then building on that interest and motivation". - By Stanley Greenspan, MD, August 2007

Other "Clinical Pearls":

• Understand and Working With Perseveration and Repetition: There’s Often A Wish or Desire Behind the Repetition.

• By Stanley I. Greenspan, MD. April 2007.
• Initiative:  A Floortime Essential and a Must for Children’s Emotional and Intellectual Growth.
  • By Stanley I. Greenspan, MD. June 2007