Badge Quest Board
Michael loves to watch Chuggington. At the end of each episode, they have a thing called "Badge Quest", where the "Train-ees" try to do things to earn badges. These are positive things, like learning to help others, learning to spot safety issues, etc.
Along the same lines, my manager at work told me about how she rewards her daughter's good behavior with stickers. It seemed like a very positive way to encourage good behavior from kids and teach them the idea of earning things, instead of having things given to them.
I figured I would combine the two. Went to Michaels' (the craft store) and bought 2 posterboards. One for Michael and one for lil' sis. She's only a baby, but I figured I would give her one, so she wouldn't feel left out.
I've been giving Michael "badges" (i.e. stickers) for good behavior. Things like finishing his healthy lunch vegetables and rice, or going swimming, or helping me hang clothes to dry in the backyard (he gets me hangers and clothespins).
He earned 10 stickers over the past 2 days and I had told him if he got 10 stickers, he would earn a Mr. The King car (it's a car from the Disney Cars movie). He's been so proud of the toy car that he earned, he ran over and showed it to Mommy when she got home, and he's been carrying it around all day.
As he was earning the stickers, he would keep asking me when he could get the blue car, and when I told him "after you earn 10 badges", he would go over to his Badge Quest board and count. It's in the hallway, and I've noticed that he looks over the stickers he has earned and counts them from time to time.
Ground rules I set with Mommy and grandparents: any grown-up can give him stickers for good behavior. I have made it clear that we do not take any away for bad behavior, that would not be right. I think that would have a negative psychological effect. I have emphasized that whatever is on his board, he has earned.
If he's doing something where he can earn a sticker, but he doesn't do it right (for example this evening when he was taking a bath he decided to pour water on the bathroom floor), he does not get the sticker.
Michael is very meticulous with his board. He's placed his stickers in an even line. He's pretty good with lil' sis. He's told me "little sister is being good, she doesn't cry, she should get a sticker". He really looks out for her. He manages her board for her.
It's funny, though, and quite an interesting psychological study ... Michael is not as meticulous with her board as he is with his own. Her stickers get stuck on the board randomly, not this careful straight line like his own. Guess it's human nature to be more careful with one's own possessions. I just bought the boards 2 days ago, they weren't anyone's until I wrote each of their names in BIG LETTERS on their boards.. At that point, it became theirs and Michael has played guardian for little sister's board.
For what it's worth, I've seen a dramatic improvement in his behavior and attitude ever since implementing this. He WANTS to be helpful, and he WANTS to be recognized for being good and being helpful.
Along the same lines, my manager at work told me about how she rewards her daughter's good behavior with stickers. It seemed like a very positive way to encourage good behavior from kids and teach them the idea of earning things, instead of having things given to them.
I figured I would combine the two. Went to Michaels' (the craft store) and bought 2 posterboards. One for Michael and one for lil' sis. She's only a baby, but I figured I would give her one, so she wouldn't feel left out.
I've been giving Michael "badges" (i.e. stickers) for good behavior. Things like finishing his healthy lunch vegetables and rice, or going swimming, or helping me hang clothes to dry in the backyard (he gets me hangers and clothespins).
He earned 10 stickers over the past 2 days and I had told him if he got 10 stickers, he would earn a Mr. The King car (it's a car from the Disney Cars movie). He's been so proud of the toy car that he earned, he ran over and showed it to Mommy when she got home, and he's been carrying it around all day.
As he was earning the stickers, he would keep asking me when he could get the blue car, and when I told him "after you earn 10 badges", he would go over to his Badge Quest board and count. It's in the hallway, and I've noticed that he looks over the stickers he has earned and counts them from time to time.
Ground rules I set with Mommy and grandparents: any grown-up can give him stickers for good behavior. I have made it clear that we do not take any away for bad behavior, that would not be right. I think that would have a negative psychological effect. I have emphasized that whatever is on his board, he has earned.
If he's doing something where he can earn a sticker, but he doesn't do it right (for example this evening when he was taking a bath he decided to pour water on the bathroom floor), he does not get the sticker.
Michael is very meticulous with his board. He's placed his stickers in an even line. He's pretty good with lil' sis. He's told me "little sister is being good, she doesn't cry, she should get a sticker". He really looks out for her. He manages her board for her.
It's funny, though, and quite an interesting psychological study ... Michael is not as meticulous with her board as he is with his own. Her stickers get stuck on the board randomly, not this careful straight line like his own. Guess it's human nature to be more careful with one's own possessions. I just bought the boards 2 days ago, they weren't anyone's until I wrote each of their names in BIG LETTERS on their boards.. At that point, it became theirs and Michael has played guardian for little sister's board.
For what it's worth, I've seen a dramatic improvement in his behavior and attitude ever since implementing this. He WANTS to be helpful, and he WANTS to be recognized for being good and being helpful.
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