Sometimes when your almost 4 year old son turns into a sassy, defiant little "bundle of energy" that you hardly recognize anymore, you need to dig deep in your bag of tricks to bring him back on track before he slips away into a land of bratty defiance forevermore. In times like these, a Mom in such circumstances draws much inspiration from the likes of Mary Poppins and The Supernanny. In fact, I'm tempted to write an advertisement for a nanny, rip it to pieces and place it in my fireplace, and patiently wait for Mary Poppins to arrive on our doorstep. DESPERATE TIMES CALL FOR DESPERATE MEASURES.
Anyway, in my world,
bribery positive motivation seems to work magical wonders, so I've created Ben a sticker chart. The components are quite simple, really. You just need some flimsy poster board (thanks, Target), some rainbow-bright markers, and an assortment of relevant stickers. And by relevant, I mean monster truck/Sesame Street/Clifford/football oriented. Fortunately, when you're 4, there is just nothing
cooler than stickers.
Ladies & gentlemen, I present you with Exhibit A of Mommy's Desperate Attempt to Regain Control, Order and Peace in My Home:
It's "Ben's Good Behavior" Chart! Please take note of the many colors and somewhat straight boxes I had to make. I even had to whip out the ruler for this complex little creation:
The categories are few & simple, and earning stickers is fairly easy. I'm doing my best to set him up for success, and when he has earned a whole row of stickers, he has earned himself something extra special- a "special treat", if you will. In Ben's mind these are what qualify as special treats:
1) ice cream cone (he's a strawberry or vanilla guy. I'm doing my best to turn him on to Peanut butter & chocolate)
2) Spiderman t-shirt
3) A movie rental of his choice
4) going on a date with Mommy to Target
Obviously, I'm pushing for special treats #1 & #4. Because if we've been successful enough in our
bribery positive motivation efforts, then by golly, Mommy deserves a special treat, too! Come on, sticker chart...Mama has big hopes for you.
Veteran parents: It gets easier, RIGHT? PLEASE? RIGHT?
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=64d892b5-954c-4f89-8b0a-084a9994b438)
This is great! I used to do the same thing with my Kindergarteners. They got to pick from the "Treasure Chest" filled with items from the $.99 store. What a good mommy you are!!
ReplyDeleteVery nice!!! Supernanny would be SO proud of you...
ReplyDeleteSelfishly I just thought, hey Nicole, Lisa, and Edith will be MY troop of veteran parents by the time we have babies! And thank God for that! :)
Best of luck with Ben!
Sorry to say I have tried this before...yeah lasted till the first reward and then it blew up in my face....I had to do it, didn't want to but what changed it all for me was taking blankie away...it was like Normandy Beach...horrid, nightmares, you name it, I experienced it with both girls.....then it was quiet, peaceful harmonious, birds singing....then the 12th birthday and TWEEN hell began....you start using the excuse if they aren't hormonal and getting their period I am putting them in therapy because I have totally screwed them up!!! I hope because you have a boy things are different but I just keep thinking they will be fun in their twenties! By the way LOVE that you made the cheesesteaks...I just posted a new dinner and tomorrow is pizza night...OH BOY that is a good one!!!!
ReplyDeleteI meant to comment on this before - I like to see your human communication degree and experience running a preschool really serving you in your role as a parent. It also totally reminds me of my mom. Which cracks me up.
ReplyDelete