There are two charts taped to the wall- one is a plastic kids placemat with strips of tape dividing it into 3 sections, one for each child, with their names written on tape at the top. We put stickers the kids earn onto this one. Once they get 10 stickers and earn their prize, I just take the stickers off of the chart, and we start counting again. The second chart is a paper with happy & sad faces, explaining how the kids can earn stickers. It says:
Eat ALL of your food = 2 stickers (really, really happy face)
Try ALL of your food = 1 sticker (happy face)
Try SOME of your food = 0 stickers (non-happy face, but not sad)
Eat NO food = Lose 1 sticker (very sad face)
10 stickers = 1 reward from prize basket (toy picture here)
Try ALL of your food = 1 sticker (happy face)
Try SOME of your food = 0 stickers (non-happy face, but not sad)
Eat NO food = Lose 1 sticker (very sad face)
10 stickers = 1 reward from prize basket (toy picture here)
(1 or 2 stickers earned also equals dessert.)
Now here comes the funnest part of it all- the prize basket! I have a big basket on top of the refrigerator that I have filled with $1 goodies I get at Target. All sorts of stuff- toys (of course), colored pens, glow bracelets, little hats, stickers, jewelry, etc., even some socks that Stephen is coveting. During dinner I encourage the kids to try at least one bite of every food offered at dinner. If they do that, they get 1 sticker and can have dessert later. Other than that, I don't pester them too much with what they do or don't eat. When they say "I'm done!" I remind them of how many stickers they have or haven't earned, ask them if they want to do a little better, and then accept their decision.
I want the stickers and prizes to be their motivation, not my demands and threats. I do hype up the prize basket frequently during the week so the kids don't forget about it, and I make it a big deal when someone gets to pick out a prize, so the other kids are motivated to earn a prize as well. We started this just over a week ago, and April and Emily have already earned a prize. I don't have to give many reminders during dinner anymore, because the kids remind each other!
I want the stickers and prizes to be their motivation, not my demands and threats. I do hype up the prize basket frequently during the week so the kids don't forget about it, and I make it a big deal when someone gets to pick out a prize, so the other kids are motivated to earn a prize as well. We started this just over a week ago, and April and Emily have already earned a prize. I don't have to give many reminders during dinner anymore, because the kids remind each other!
That's a good idea! We're very lucky with boys who generally eat everything on their plates and then some, but I love the idea anyway. We might try to adapt it for some other things the boys have trouble with.
ReplyDeletei really like that idea.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea, Jean!
ReplyDeleteGramma Mary
That's a great idea! Reward charts work well for us too, but I can't have a chart for every behavior problem. This summer, we re-implemented the good behavior-star chart, 10 stars=date with mom or dad. And I have Megan's potty chart, 20 stars=prize. So one for dinner would be too much. For us, I figure dessert is it's own reward. But I think what you are doing is awesome. I hope it works for a long time.
ReplyDeleteI use what I learned in Love and Logic with their actions equaling the real-life consequence (although I'm not real good at applying that principle to other behavior, especially since I'm afraid onlookers will call CPS on me)and it works well, except I hate that I still get "do you think I ate enough?" every night. But they've generally learned not to fuss afterwards about not getting dessert or how they are hungry later.