I’ve been trying to get my kids to finish what they start, but it’s been a struggle. Anyone have tips on using positive reinforcement to teach them about following through? I know it’s important, but I’m not sure how to approach it in a way that actually sticks. What’s worked for you?
how can you go about teaching kids the importance of following through using positive reinforcement?
I’ve been trying something similar with my 5-year-old. We use a simple chart with smiley faces for finished tasks. It’s helping a bit, but some days are still a struggle.
I’m curious about the ‘mission board’ idea. How big are the tasks you put on there? I worry my little one might get overwhelmed if the tasks are too big.
For us, putting away toys is usually doable, but bigger stuff like cleaning their room is tougher. Any tips for breaking down bigger tasks for younger kids? I’d love to hear what’s worked for others with kids around this age.
In our house, we’ve turned following through into a bit of a game. My kid has a ‘mission board’ where we put sticky notes for tasks. Completing a mission earns points that can be traded for small rewards or privileges. It’s been working pretty well so far.
I’ve noticed it helps to keep tasks manageable and set clear expectations. Sometimes we brainstorm missions together, which gets my child more invested in the process. It’s not perfect, but it’s definitely improved things around here.
In our family, we’ve found that little rewards go a long way. We started a ‘task jar’ where the kids put in a marble each time they finish something. When the jar is full, we do a fun family activity they choose.
It’s been helpful to keep tasks small and doable. My 10-year-old struggled with cleaning her room, so we broke it into parts like ‘put away clothes’ or ‘organize desk.’ She gets to add a marble for each part.
My younger one loves seeing the jar fill up. He often reminds us to add marbles now. It’s neat to see them feel proud about following through.
The most important thing has been staying positive and patient. Some weeks are better than others, but overall they’re getting better at finishing what they start.
We started small. Quick wins built confidence. My 9-year-old tracks completed tasks on his tablet. The 12-year-old earns extra allowance for finishing projects.
They’re not perfect, but I’ve seen progress. Consistency and patience helped a lot.
I remember going through this with my kids. What worked for us was breaking bigger tasks into smaller, manageable steps. We’d celebrate each step they completed, even if it was just with a high five or a quick “Great job!”
For my younger one, we used a sticker chart. Every time he finished a task, he got to put a sticker on the chart. It was simple, but he loved seeing his progress. My older one responded better to earning points towards a bigger reward, like extra video game time on the weekend.
The key was finding what motivated each kid and being consistent with the praise and rewards. It took time, but they started to feel proud of following through on their own. Now, my teens are pretty good at finishing what they start without me nagging them. Hang in there, it does get easier! 