I’m looking for some easy, everyday ideas to keep my kids motivated and encourage good behavior. What are some positive reinforcement techniques that work well without being too complicated or time-consuming? I’ve tried sticker charts before, but they lost interest pretty quickly. Any suggestions from parents who’ve found effective methods?
I’ve found that small, daily rewards work well for keeping my kids motivated. We have a jar where they earn marbles for good choices. It’s simple but they love seeing the jar fill up.
At the end of the week, they pick a fun family activity if they reach their goal. Sometimes it’s movie night, a trip to the park, or baking cookies together.
What I like is how it keeps them thinking about making good choices throughout the day. They get excited about earning marbles and planning our weekend treat.
It doesn’t take much time, and the kids stay interested because they help choose the rewards. Seeing them proud of their progress is really rewarding for me too.
We tried a few things over the years, but what really clicked was a simple ‘catch them being good’ approach. I started pointing out when the kids did something helpful, even small stuff. It took time, but they started doing more good things to get that positive attention.
For my younger one, we used a jar with marbles. She’d earn them for good choices and could trade them for little treats or save up for bigger ones. My teen responded better to earning extra privileges, like a later bedtime on weekends.
What surprised me was how much their mood improved overall. They seemed happier when we focused on the positive instead of nagging about chores. It wasn’t always easy to stay consistent, but it really paid off in the long run. 
In our house, we’ve had some success with a ‘Good Deed Jar’. My kid drops in a colorful pom-pom whenever they do something helpful or kind. Once the jar is full, we brainstorm a fun family outing together.
It’s low-key but keeps positive actions on their radar. Plus, seeing the jar gradually fill up gives a nice visual of their efforts. The anticipation of choosing our reward activity adds extra excitement too.
Not perfect, but it’s working for us so far. Always open to new ideas though!
I tried a point system on our family whiteboard. Kids earn points for good stuff, lose them for not-so-good.
They cash in points for small treats or save up for bigger ones. Quick to update and they like seeing their progress.
I’ve been trying different things to keep my 5-year-old motivated. One thing that’s working okay is a ‘treasure box’ with small toys and treats. When they do something good, they get to pick from the box.
It’s not perfect though. Sometimes they only do things to get a prize. I wonder if that’s teaching the right lesson?
What’s worked for you long-term? Did your kids eventually do good things without always expecting a reward? I’d love to hear how other parents handle this as their kids get older.