Hey everyone, I’m looking for some advice on getting my kids to behave better. We’ve tried a few things, but nothing seems to stick. What kind of rewards or incentives have actually worked for your families? I’m open to pretty much anything at this point, as long as it’s not too extreme. Thanks in advance for any tips!
In our house, we’ve had success with a simple sticker chart for each kid. They earn stickers for things like cleaning up toys or brushing teeth without reminders. When they fill a row, they get to pick a small treat or fun activity.
It’s been great seeing how proud they are when they earn stickers. They often remind each other now too. We keep it low-key and celebrate the little wins.
Another thing that’s worked well is giving them more independence in choosing their clothes or snacks when they show responsibility in other areas. They really seem to value those small freedoms.
It’s definitely a process, but we’ve seen improvements over time with consistency and lots of encouragement along the way.
Tried a points system with my kids. They earn points for chores and good behavior. At the end of the week, points can be traded for screen time or small rewards.
It’s been working pretty well so far. They seem motivated to earn points.
We’ve had some success with a ‘chore wheel’ in our house. It’s like a game show spinner with different tasks. My kid spins it each day to see what chore they get. Sometimes we time it and try to beat previous records.
I’ve noticed it takes away the daily negotiations about what needs to be done. The element of chance makes it more fun. We’re not perfect, but it’s helped create a bit more routine around household tasks without too much fuss.
I remember trying different things with my kids. What worked best was a mix of short-term and long-term rewards. For quick wins, we used a jar system. They’d get a marble for each chore or good behavior. When the jar was full, they could pick a small treat or activity.
For bigger goals, we set up a monthly reward. If they hit their chore targets consistently, we’d do something special as a family, like a movie night or a trip to the park. It took time, but they started to see the connection between their actions and the rewards.
One thing that surprised me was how much they liked non-material rewards. Sometimes, staying up 30 minutes later or choosing dinner for the night was more exciting than a new toy. Every kid is different, so we had to adjust as we went along. The key was finding what motivated each child and sticking with it. 
I’m trying a mix of things with my 5-year-old. We started a simple chore chart with stickers, and it’s working okay some days. Other times it’s a struggle.
I’m curious how you all handle it when kids refuse to do their tasks? My kid sometimes throws a fit over putting away toys. I don’t want to force it, but I also want to teach responsibility.
Has anyone found ways to make chores feel more like a game? I’ve heard of chore wheels and point systems. Do those actually work long-term? Or do kids get bored after a while?
Right now we use small rewards, but I worry that might backfire. Will my child ever do chores without expecting something in return? I’d love to hear what’s worked for others as their kids got older.