Reward charts

[greyblackday]

Hi all,

Hoping to gather some views on reward charts?

I have a 2.5 year old who is generally well behaved, minus the odd blip here and there.

I was thinking of getting a reward chart to reward his good behaviour (brushed teeth without refusing, tried all items on his dinner, etc etc).

Just wondering if this is a good idea, or do you think it leads to the expectation that he will always receive something in exchange for good behaviour? Is that even a bad thing?!

I was thinking if he gets so many "starts" he would get something like a new book or similar?

I do this for my well behaved 3yo. She gets a star for staying in her bed until her gro clock wakes up, one for no knicker accidents (as that was becoming an issue) and random other ones if she's done something particularly kind or good. She gets a magazine/comic for 15 stars, so about fortnightly as she is at her dad's two nights a week, which is fine by me. It's something I'd probably have got for her every few weeks anyway but she loves earning it, and if she wants something different (ie new bubble mix etc) she knows she can work towards it.

I think they can work but just getting the sticker on the chart can often be a reward in itself for a child so perhaps stick with that for now and only progress to an actual reward if needed.

Ah, that's actually really interesting as I'm going to toilet train next month so there's another incentive to help him along the way!

I found it more helpful to be specific with the chart, so it was getting ready in the morning that was a challenge in our house. Our chart was just for this and involved little stickers for each action and one bigger sticker when ready to go out. The sticker was enough for my two year old!
I would focus on something attainable rather than generic 'good behaviour'.

I did a sticker chart for DD when toilet training which worked brilliantly (combined with smarties ). DS wasn't interested at all in stickers, although we did have a fantastic ink-stamp gadget thing that had about 7 different animals on it. He loved choosing which animal to have stamped on his hand (and a smartie…….)

I never found much success with sticker charts at other times though.

Yeah, the one I have found has different sections so we could maybe have one colour for getting ready on a morning and another colour for something else such as tidying his toys away when asked etc etc.

Or stick to one and see how we go with that before introducing the others.

Many thanks!

We did a sticker chart for potty training as well, combined with chocolate buttons! After she filled up the whole chart she got a small playset thing, and understood that was the end of the buttons every time she did a wee! She was about 2.5 then, I think.

We did try a behaviour chart when she was a bit older and started the backchat etc, but she lost interest fairly quickly. I was surprised because she LOVED the potty training one. I think it works for some kids, and at different stages too.

I don't think children of this age can make an association really between an action and a sticker. Plus as you say, it leads to an expectation.

You're going to toilet train next month? Is your DS ready? Mine of same age knows the theory but is totally sure he's not ready. I'm going to be led by him on this as you can't really force it. BIL and SIL waited until 3 with nephew and he clicked straight away, hardly any accidents

Hmmmm, I suppose it's a trial and error process really.

I do definitely think he would understand the chart though, he would know what meant if I said he would get a sticker for doing XYZ... and as other say, I think he would be excited at the sticker alone to be honest. Especially if he is putting it on the chart himself.

As for toilet training I'm unsure but won't know til I try? He runs off to hide when he does a poo and tell yous after the event, that he has done a poo. He points to the toilet etc and says "mammy wee wee" so I think he's giving all the right signs. I'm not forcing it upon him....

Op you might find this interesting as to why there’s a growing belief that sticker charts etc. aren’t a good thing. This author has written several fascinating books on the subject www.alfiekohn.org/article/case-gold-stars-2/

Interesting! Thank you. I'll have a look