I’ve been trying different approaches with my 6 year old lately and I’m wondering if reward systems work long term. Some folks swear by sticker charts and treats for good behavior, while others think it just makes kids expect rewards for everything they should be doing anyway.
What’s your experience? Did rewards help change your child’s behavior, or did you find other methods worked better? I’m curious to hear what actually worked for other parents.
We tried rewards with both kids around that age. Worked great for maybe 2-3 weeks, then they started bargaining for bigger rewards. Now we mix it up. Sometimes small rewards for new habits we’re building, but mostly just clear expectations. The negotiating phase was exhausting though.
In my experience, rewards had a short-lived effect with my daughter. She quickly turned every task into a negotiation, asking, “What do I get if I brush my teeth?” It became clear that the rewards weren’t setting the foundation we needed. Eventually, we focused on making chores a natural part of our routine. By doing some tasks together at first, she eventually started doing them on her own without needing a reward. So while rewards might kick things off, they haven’t led to lasting changes in our home.