STEP 1: Make a list of every kind of reward you can think of.
After making the list, check with your child to see if there are any rewards you missed.
Which ones are the most important?
Example List: computer time, movie time, ice-cream or other food, story time, special activity, sitting in the front seat instead of the back, stickers on a chart that lead to larger rewards, surprises, a treasure box, surprise gifts, special necklace or shirt, McDonald's or Chucky Cheese's, play time with a friend.
In the end, almost everything good can turn into rewards.
STEP 2: Think of a behavior you want to encourage. For example, you can reward a week of good behavior at school, reading every day, or a great score on a spelling test.
STEP 3: Find appropriate means to record data where your child can see it. For example, my kids really like the Ladybug chart for tracking their reading time each day. The following web link has more chart ideas and how to use them.
Vary Rewards: If people (not just young people) receive the same reward for too long, that reward loses effectiveness.
IDEA: Build rewards into ordinary plans.
- When my children are watching a movie and need to get ready for bed, I stop the movie early, have them brush their teeth in a timely manner, and watch a little more movie as a reward.
- After the kids pick out their clothes for the next day of school, they go out and play.
- If the kids brush their teeth on their own, they can use a pink fluoride mouth rinse.
- Once in a while, a treasure from a treasure box encourages good going-to-bed behavior. But children do not get the treasure until they are all ready for school with hair brushed and shoes on the following day.
Even I find it easier to accomplish my tasks when looking forward to positive rewards.
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