[sethsmommy]

like marbles in a jar...pennies in a jar....stickers....

[RobinKay]

For older children have a chores chart and they can earn TV or video game time, homework can be a "chore" that must be done to earn the desired activities. My son likes to help cook or bake cookies, so that is a reward for him.

[arubagirl]

If mine takes a nap she gets 4 little m&M's she thinks its a big deal!!

[Heyheather]

This idea is a mix of me, Supernanny, and our counselor. At the beginning of the day the kids get 10 cotton balls in their jar. If they disobey the rules that we have posted then I take a ball out of the jar. At the end of the day, I count up the balls. If there are 8-10 balls left then I give 2 coupons, 6-7 balls gets 1 ball, and 4-5 balls gets a little chocolate candy. Then they can save their coupons to "buy" something like extra TV or computer time, extra candy, staying up late or a toy. This the plan in a nutshell - if you want more details let me know.

[mellaf]

Heyheather,

Can you PM me your details? I am a new fost/adopt mom to an 11 year old who normally is very good about the rules. We have rules set in place and tried to write them positively (not a list of no's), but sometimes we struggle with the whole gift/earning stuff/tv time/game time, etc.

I would LOVE to see a plan in action that would actually work. My Sparkle is a great girl and for the most part, does her chores and behaves quite well most of the time. I don't want her to expect toys or gifts a lot and earning things really does mean something for her.

[shan76]

My son earns marbles for good behavior. When the jar is full, he gets to treat the whole family to something special. (This makes siblings want to help him have good behavior, because they get the reward too. Plus, he gets to feel like the big cheese!) He's already taken us to Chuck E. Cheese, and as I look at the marrble jar, it looks like he'll be treating us to Cold Stone Creamery soon!

Each day at school he has the opportunity to earn 3 marbles: 1 for staying dry, 1 for keeping his hands to himself, and 1 for being respectful. He also earns one marble for every "truthful" day. Every time the phone rings, it's another opportunity to earn a marble for "no interuptions." Mealtime and dressing are also great times to use marble rewards. If I am walking into a situation I know will be challenging, I let him know up front that this is a marble-earning opportunity. I also give him marbles spontaneously for good behaviors.

Once, I caught his putting a marbles in the jar (without earning them), and I took a whole handful out of the jar. needless to say... he doesn't cheat his marbles anymore. With that exception, we never take marbles away after he has earned them. I think that would defeat the purpose of "positive reinforcement."

Hope this helps.

[ranoutofnames]

We've used the marbles and such before. It worked for a short period of time... we just aren't consistent enough to follow it.

Instead we pick the issue to work on for the day (like no hitting other kids, back talking at day care, peeing in the pants). The child gets to pick their reward (like a bubble bath all to themselves, two books read just to them, game of Candy Land, etc).

They still get corrected for other naughty behavior but in this way we have a reward they get at the end of the day if they are successful with the issue of the day.