I’m trying to be more consistent with positive reinforcement for my kids, but I’m not sure how to fit it into our busy days. Any ideas for simple activities or strategies that work well as part of regular routines? Looking for practical suggestions that don’t take a ton of extra time. Thanks!
I’ve been wondering about this too! We started a little game in the morning where my 5-year-old and I take turns saying nice things about each other while getting dressed. It’s quick and fun, and starts the day off well.
For bedtime, we’ve been trying a ‘gratitude jar’. We put in little notes about good things that happened. On tough days, we pull one out to read. It helps us remember the positives.
What about meal times? Has anyone found good ways to add positive moments there? I feel like we’re often rushing through dinner and missing chances to connect.
I set up a quick high-five ritual before school drop-off. Takes seconds but starts the day on a positive note.
For bedtime, we do a quick rundown of good things from the day. Kids seem to like it and it’s become a habit.
In our house, we’ve had success with a simple sticker chart for daily tasks. The kids put a sticker on when they finish things like brushing teeth or tidying up. It’s quick and they enjoy it.
We also started doing ‘proud moments’ at dinner. Everyone shares something they’re proud of from the day. It’s become a fun tradition and helps focus on the positives.
Another thing that works well is giving specific praise for effort throughout the day. Just noticing and mentioning when they try hard at something seems to motivate them.
These little things don’t take much time but have made a big difference in our routines.
We started a ‘chore challenge’ in our house. Each week, I put different tasks on slips of paper in a jar. My kid picks one out each day after school. It’s become a fun guessing game, and the randomness keeps things interesting. Sometimes we race against a timer or play music while doing the chore.
I’ve noticed my child seems more eager to help out now that it feels like a game rather than a boring obligation. It’s not perfect, but it’s made our daily routines a bit smoother and more positive overall.
I remember trying to fit positive reinforcement into our busy schedules. One thing that worked well was keeping a whiteboard in the kitchen. We’d jot down little wins or good behaviors as they happened. During dinner, we’d read them out. The kids loved hearing their accomplishments, and it only took a few seconds to write them down.
For my younger one, we used a ‘caught being good’ jar. Whenever I noticed him doing something positive, I’d pop a marble in. Once it was full, he got to choose a small reward. It made both of us more aware of the good stuff.
My teenager responded well to texts. I’d send a quick message when I heard about something positive from school or noticed her helping out. It was easy to do and made her feel seen, even when we were both busy.