I’ve been struggling with my kids’ behavior lately and I’m looking for some new ideas. Has anyone had success with a particular reward system? What worked best for you and your children? I’m open to trying different approaches, whether it’s sticker charts, point systems, or something else entirely. Just hoping to find something that actually motivates them to behave better. Any tips or experiences would be really helpful!
We use a weekly goal board. Kids pick 3 goals, like homework or chores. They get points for meeting goals.
Points can be used for extra screen time or a special outing. It’s simple but works pretty well for us.
I remember when my kids were younger, we went through so many different reward systems! What worked best for us was a mix of things. We had a big whiteboard in the kitchen where everyone could see their tasks and rewards. The kids got to choose some of their chores, which made them feel more involved.
For rewards, we used a mix of privileges and activities. Extra video game time was popular with my son, while my daughter loved staying up a bit later on weekends. Sometimes, they’d save up points for a bigger reward like picking the movie for family night or choosing where we went for dinner.
When they started losing interest, we’d have a family meeting to brainstorm new ideas. It kept things fresh and let them feel heard. Over time, good behavior became more of a habit and we needed the system less. It wasn’t always smooth sailing, but consistency really helped in the long run.
We’ve had some success with a simple marble jar system in our house. Each time the kids do something helpful or show good behavior, they get to add a marble to the jar. When it’s full, we do a fun family activity they choose.
It’s been nice because it’s visual and they can see their progress. Plus, it focuses on the positive things they do rather than punishments. We keep a list of activity ideas on the fridge so they always have something to look forward to.
What I like is how it’s brought us together as a family. The kids work as a team to fill the jar faster. And the reward is time together, which has been really special. It’s not perfect, but it’s helped create more positive moments in our day.
In our house, we’ve had some luck with a customized chore chart. My kid gets to pick tasks from a list and earn points for completing them. The points can be traded for small rewards or screen time. It’s not perfect, but it’s helped make chores feel more like a choice than a chore.
I find mixing it up keeps things interesting. Sometimes we’ll do a ‘chore challenge’ where we race to finish tasks, or play music and have a mini dance party while cleaning. It’s all about finding what clicks with your kids and making it fun.
I’ve been trying different things with my 5-year-old too. We started a simple sticker chart for basic tasks like putting toys away. Some days it works great, other days not so much.
I’m curious about reward systems that don’t rely on physical items. Has anyone tried using special privileges or activities as rewards instead of toys or treats? My kid loves helping me cook, so I’ve thought about using that as a reward, but I’m not sure if it would be effective long-term.
What kind of rewards have you found most motivating for your kids? And how do you handle it when they lose interest in the current system?