I’m struggling with my kids’ behavior lately and I want to try a more positive approach. I’ve heard positive reinforcement can be effective, but I’m not sure how to actually implement it in daily life. Any parents or teachers have tips on using this method successfully? What kinds of rewards or praise work best? And how do you stay consistent with it?
In our home, we’ve found that a simple reward system works wonders. We keep a jar in the kitchen and add marbles when the kids do something good. They love watching the jar fill up!
When it’s full, we do a fun family activity they choose. It could be a movie night or a trip to the park. This way, they get excited about doing good things and we all benefit.
We also try to catch them being good and say something nice right away. Like ‘Thanks for helping set the table without being asked!’ It’s amazing how much that little bit of recognition motivates them.
It takes some effort to remember, but we’ve seen such great changes in their behavior. They seem more eager to help out and be kind to each other now.
We use a simple point system at home. Kids earn points for good behavior, which they can trade for screen time or picking dinner.
It’s not perfect, but it’s helped. We try to notice when they do something good and mention it right away.
Some days are better than others. It takes practice.
You know, I’ve been down that road with my kids. Positive reinforcement can work wonders, but it takes some trial and error to find what clicks.
For us, a mix of verbal praise and a simple point system did the trick. We’d give points for things like finishing homework without reminders or helping with dishes. They could trade points for extra TV time or choosing dinner one night.
The key was catching them doing good stuff and mentioning it right away. It felt a bit forced at first, but it became more natural over time. Some days were tougher than others, especially when they were cranky or tired.
Don’t worry too much about perfect consistency. Just aim to notice the good more often than the bad. And remember, what works for one kid might not work for another. It’s all about finding that sweet spot for your family. 
I’ve been trying positive reinforcement with my 5-year-old lately. Some days it works great, other days not so much. I started with a sticker chart for putting away toys, but I’m not sure if that’s the best approach.
What kinds of rewards have worked well for your kids? I worry about relying too much on treats or prizes. And how do you handle days when they just refuse to cooperate?
I love the idea of catching them being good and praising that. I try to do it, but sometimes I get so busy I forget. Any tips for remembering to notice those little moments?
In our house, we’ve found that turning chores into games really helps. My kid loves timing themselves to see how fast they can put away toys or set the table. We also have a ‘chore challenge’ where they pick a task from a jar and try to complete it creatively.
Sometimes we use a point system where they can earn screen time or choose a weekend activity. It’s not perfect, but it keeps things more fun than just nagging about chores all the time.
The key has been keeping it lighthearted and praising effort, not just results. Some days work better than others, but overall it’s made chores less of a battle.