I’m looking for some help with setting up a reward system for my kids. Anyone have experience with this? I want to encourage good behavior without going overboard. What’s worked for you? Any tips on keeping it simple and effective? Thanks!
We use a simple points system. Kids earn points for chores and good behavior. They can spend points on small treats or save for bigger rewards.
It’s not perfect, but it’s easy to track and the kids seem to like it. We adjust as needed.
I’ve been experimenting with a reward system for my kid lately. We use a simple chart where they earn stickers for completing tasks. Once they collect enough stickers, they can choose a small reward or fun activity. It’s been pretty effective so far.
What I like about it is that it’s visual and gives my child a sense of progress. They actually get excited about doing chores now, which is a nice change. Of course, every kid is different, so you might need to adjust things to fit your family’s needs.
We’ve had success with a ‘good choices jar’ in our house. It’s a clear container where the kids add a small pebble whenever they make a positive choice or help out.
When the jar is full, we do something fun as a family. The kids love seeing it fill up slowly. It’s simple and encourages teamwork.
For daily tasks, we have a magnetic board with pictures of chores. The kids move the magnets to ‘done’ when finished. It gives them a sense of accomplishment.
These methods have worked well for us, but every family is different. Finding what motivates your kids might take some trial and error. The most important thing is to keep it positive and celebrate their efforts along the way.
We tried a few things over the years, but what worked best was giving the kids a choice. I’d list out the chores that needed doing, and they’d pick which ones they wanted to tackle. It wasn’t always smooth sailing, but it helped them feel more in control.
For my younger one, we used a simple chart on the fridge. She’d get to put a magnet up for each chore done. My older kid preferred keeping track on his phone. The key was finding what motivated each of them.
Rewards varied too. Sometimes it was extra screen time, other times it was choosing dinner or a weekend activity. We kept it flexible. It took some trial and error, but eventually, we found a groove that worked for our family. 
Just remember, what works for one kid might not work for another. It’s all about figuring out what clicks for your crew.
I tried a sticker chart too, but my little one lost interest after a week. Now we’re experimenting with a ‘treasure hunt’ style system. I hide small treats or notes around the house, and they can search for them after finishing chores.
It’s working okay, but I worry it might be too much. How do other parents balance rewards and expectations? I’d love to hear about systems that worked long-term for older kids. Did anyone try apps or digital trackers with success?