I’ve been trying to get my kids to follow rules at home, but I don’t want to be too strict or negative. I’ve heard positive reinforcement can work well, but I’m not sure how to actually do it. Anyone have experience with this or good tips that have worked for their family? Looking for practical ideas I can try out. Thanks!
We tried a mix of things. Praising good behavior worked well. A simple chart with small rewards helped too.
My kids responded to different approaches. One liked earning screen time, the other preferred special one-on-one activities.
Consistency was key. It took time, but eventually following rules became more routine.
I’ve been experimenting with positive reinforcement too. My 5-year-old responds well to a simple sticker chart for following rules. It’s not perfect, but it’s helping.
I’m curious how others handle when kids lose interest in the rewards? My little one was excited at first, but now sometimes forgets about the chart.
Also, I’ve tried praising good behavior, but I worry about overdoing it. How much praise is too much? I want to encourage without making every little thing a big deal.
Has anyone found ways to make rule-following feel more natural and less about external rewards? I’d love to hear what’s worked for other families as their kids got older.
With our kids, we’ve found creating a reward chart really helpful. Each week, they get to put stickers on for following house rules. It’s fun to watch them get excited about earning rewards.
We keep it simple with small prizes they can choose, like picking the weekend movie or an extra 15 minutes of playtime. The key has been consistency and making a big deal when they do well.
I’ve noticed they’re more motivated to help out around the house now. They even remind each other about the rules sometimes! It’s not perfect, but focusing on the positives has made things smoother overall.
One unexpected benefit - it’s helped me stay calmer too. I catch myself looking for good things to praise more often now.
I remember when my kids were younger, positive reinforcement made a big difference for us. We started a simple point system where they’d earn stickers for following rules like putting away toys or being ready for school on time. Once they collected enough stickers, they could trade them in for small rewards.
It took some trial and error to figure out what worked best for each child. My daughter enjoyed earning extra bedtime stories, while my son appreciated more Lego time. Keeping it simple and consistent helped clear up a lot of confusion.
I also made sure to notice them having a good moment. I’d praise them when I spotted them following a rule without being asked. That small encouragement boosted their confidence and helped create a friendlier atmosphere at home. 
I’ve found turning chores into games can work wonders. My kid loves setting timers to see how fast they can tidy up. We also do ‘chore roulette’ where tasks are picked randomly - it adds an element of surprise.
Sometimes we have ‘clean up dance parties’ where we blast music and race to finish before the song ends. It’s not always perfect, but making it fun has definitely increased cooperation around the house.
Combining positive reinforcement with playfulness seems to be the sweet spot for us. It takes some creativity, but it’s worth it to see chores become less of a battle.