Parenting Forums

Posted: 09 January 2007 at 1:25pm | IP Logged

Hello,

Does anyone use reward charts and do they work?

I bought one for Ethan (he's 3 1/2, 4 in July) today from ELC. He's always been a really well behaved little boy, he had tantrums of course and would every now and then do something he shouldn't but I've never had to really tell him off. However, he's suddenly pushing the boundaries more and more, and will not do a thing I tell him.  I did wonder whether he could be jealous, Ellie was more demanding than Ethan so would often be getting more attention then Ethan, although I always went out of my way to praise Ethan and give him lots of attention too.

I was hoping that a reward chart may help but he's thrown a wobbly already cos I wouldn't let him scribble with it, it was a major full blown tantrum that lasted a good 10 minutes. 

The age on the chart says 4+. I'm now wondering if maybe he's a little two young yet.

Thanks

Gemma x

Posted: 09 January 2007 at 1:37pm | IP Logged

I tried a reward chart with Harrison(4 and a v.important half lol)  a few times, over potty training, being dry in the night and recently, a few months back for his behaviour and attitude.

I didnt really see much improvement with the reward chart as he always wanted to stick stickers onto it every 5 minutes and then when i wasnt looking he'd move the sickers about and mess with it.  Every five minutes he'd ask to put a sticker on the chart just for doing well nothing then throw a wobbler. The ruddy thing gave me a headache

They do use personal reward charts at school and apparently they go down a storm.

I know most people have positive experiences with reward charts but mine wasn't. 

I used a treat system instead.  Like if he was good, tidied his room or did as he was told he could watch a dvd or we would go to the park, or we would play a game of his choice etc..I found that had more imapct for us.

Posted: 09 January 2007 at 3:09pm | IP Logged

He doesn't sound too young, Greg(6) and Kay(4) use one and they go out of their way to impress me so they can get more stickers and a treat. Kay used to play with the stickers but we moved it farther up the wall so it's out of their way and we just pick them up or in Greg's case get them a stool for them to put their stickers on

Posted: 09 January 2007 at 7:21pm | IP Logged

Despite his first paddy, it seems to have worked well today. Ethan tidied his toys away straight away and bedtime was calm and easy.