Many parents, especially the new ones, are in search for answers to children’s behavioral challenges. Developing a good reward plan can help a child develop good habits with a lot of various behaviors.
Why a Reward Plan is Important
Naturally, we all work for a reward. However, implementing a positive and consistent reward plan and searching for the right reward is necessary to build good habits in kids. The benefits of a reward plan include.
- Improves the self-esteem of a child.
- Allows you to have more enjoyable interactions with your child.
- Teaches your child to exercise independence.
- Lets him see his progress toward a goal.
Reward Plan Resources that you can Print Out
Reward charts for children help them learn their responsibilities and a little control over their environment. These charts communicate behaviors that you wish to see completed. Allowing your kid to suggest a reward is a good idea as long as you guide him. Children tend to be motivated to work toward rewards that they really want. Begin with small rewards such as additional TV time, a movie ticket or some additional allowance. You don’t have to spend money on rewards. Some children would be happy with some time with their father or a trip to the park. There are many activities that you can reward charts for.
- Charts for morning and evening routine. Use a great hygiene chart to eliminate the morning and evening challenges with your child.
- Behavior charts. These charts allow you to stay consistent with any of your child’s behavior. The behaviors that can be improved using reward plans include picking up toys or clothes, saying “please” and “thank you,” using tissues, getting ready for school, brushing and flossing the teeth, sharing and allowing other children to go first, eliminating nail biting or thumb sucking, getting chores done, and more.
- Homework Charts. In case your kid struggles with homework, consider providing him an incentive. This can motivate him to complete his homework.
Steps Involved in Implementing a Reward Plan
Before initiating a reward plan, check out the steps for success below. Ensure you engage your child in each step of the process.
- Determine the problem behavior. It is imperative to work with your kid on this one. You have probably talked to your child about his behavior again and again. Instead of lecturing, spend time with him to talk about the behavior which is not acceptable and your expectation. If you have a young child, just work on a few behaviors at a time.
- Choose a behavior chart. With the help of your kid, pick a chart. Involve him in the process so he can have a sense of control and feel excited about the process and the results. While he follows the expected behavior, you can either award points or put a check mark. To ensure your child is consistently interested, consider changing every week. Also, you may wish to make the behavior task a bit more challenging.
- Choose a reward. Ensure you come up with a reward which corresponds to the behavior that you are working on. Try to save major rewards for tougher behaviors. Usually, parents believe the best reward is a monetary one. And yet most children do not need anything more than your attention and time. Little Believer’s Academy, a famous daycare center in North Carolina, believes that you are your child’s best reward.
- Follow through. The reward or behavior plan will only work if you follow through. You can expect the behavior chart to be of real help for you on this. For a younger child, place the chart on his wall and for your older child, keep the chart on a notebook.
- Don’t forget the principles. To make the plan successful, there are basic rules to be followed:
- Be positive.
- Be realistic.
- Be consistent.
- Praise often.
