does everyone on mn have a "method"?

[alhambra]

the pasta "method" has had a lot of mn publicity recently, I think it's cool but I don't like the idea of giving money for good behaviour, even derisory amounts like 2p. I'm really intrigued about what other "methods" mumsnetters use, as I am shopping around for a nonmaterialistic but firm one I can use.....does such a one exist? At the moment I'm losing, as I keep using idle threats and shouting, which may be non materialistic, but is a)ineffectual and b) damaging........

I don't have a method. If they are naughty they get told off, possibly sent out of the room/sit on the stairs but mainly me going bananas gets the message across because I only lose it once every couple of weeks or so and they know from the way my face changes that they've gone too far and they jump to it!

If they are good they get lots of praise and cuddles etc.

Never done any star charts, standing in corners, removal of privileges - never needed to. But then I have 2 dds who are naturally well behaved on the whole (except when attempting to kill each other) so am getting off lightly I feel!

threats, bribes, shame & negotiation. Not idle threats, though, my kids know I mean it.

So - I have a suggestion that I actually saw on the house of tiny tearaways... They sent a family off on a picnic and they took a disposable and they took pictures of the kids when they had good behavior and it seemed to work SO well. They developed the pictures and made a collage of good behavior and the kids looked at it a lot... The parents did it occasionally after that and had a great visual reminder for the kids of how they wanted them to act. I hope that whatever you're doing works! My ds is only 7 months so the more tricks one has in the bag for the future the better.