I’m looking for ways to encourage good behavior in my kids, but I’m running out of ideas. We’ve tried sticker charts and small treats, but they’re losing their appeal. What kinds of rewards have worked well for other families? I’d love to hear some creative suggestions that have actually been successful, especially for elementary-age children. Thanks in advance for any tips!
We tried a few different things over the years. One that worked well was a ‘fun jar.’ The kids would earn slips of paper with fun activities written on them for good behavior or finishing chores without being asked. They’d get to pick from the jar on weekends.
Some of the activities were free, like having a picnic in the backyard or staying up 30 minutes past bedtime. Others cost a little, like going out for ice cream or to the movies. My older one loved earning extra video game time this way.
The fun jar worked because it gave them something to look forward to and let them choose their reward. It also made it easier for us to spend quality time together as a family. 
Of course, every kid is different. You might need to try a few ideas before finding what clicks with your children.
We’ve been trying different things with our 5-year-old. Recently, we started a ‘special helper’ system. When our child helps with small tasks or shows good behavior, they get to be the special helper for part of the day.
This means they can choose a fun activity we do together, like reading an extra book or playing a game. It’s working pretty well so far, but I’m curious about longer-term rewards.
Has anyone tried saving up ‘points’ or something similar for bigger rewards? I’m wondering if that might work better as they get older. What age did you start more complex reward systems with your kids?
Extra screen time works well for us. My kids earn minutes for good behavior or finishing chores. They can use them for games or shows on weekends.
It’s simple to track and they really look forward to it.
I’ve found that turning chores into games can work wonders. My kid loves it when we set a timer and race to see who can put away the most laundry before it goes off. Sometimes we’ll put on music and have a dance party while cleaning up. It’s not a perfect system, but it definitely makes things more fun. We also keep a list of bigger rewards they can earn over time, like a trip to the zoo or picking the weekend activity. It takes some creativity, but finding ways to make tasks enjoyable has been helpful in our house.
In our house, we’ve had success with a points system. The kids earn points for good behavior and helping out. They can save up for bigger rewards or cash in for smaller ones.
One thing that’s worked well is letting them choose rewards from a list we made together. It includes stuff like picking a movie for family night, having a friend over, or a special outing with mom or dad.
We keep track on a chart on the fridge. It’s fun to see them get excited about earning points and deciding how to use them. They’re learning to set goals and make choices.
It took some trial and error to find what motivates them, but now they really enjoy it. The system has helped create more positive interactions in our daily routines.