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Catch Them Being Good
Reviewing the Reward System By Lisamarie Sanders
I stood in front of the classroom on the first day of school, looking into the eager yet defiant faces of my prepubescent charges. They were hungry to devour the new teacher, who was a student herself just three months before. As the students began challenging me with their behaviors, I remembered what my Child Development professor had drilled into my head: "Catch them being good."
To my surprise, his advice wasn't just a theoretical solution: It actually worked. Now that I've traded the chalkboard for a diaper pail, I turn to his words even more often.
One effective way to deal with young children's behavior is through the use of rewards, or in other words, catching them being good.
There are many different ways to reward children. When most of us hear the word reward, we think of material things: a toy, candy or other special treat. If she's behaving well in the grocery store, a child may get a slice of cheese from the deli section. When he keeps his room clean for a whole week, a boy might get a special toy from his father. And how many times have you told your child, "If you finish your meal, you may have dessert?"
These tangible rewards don't have to be expensive items. One mom I know saves toys from kids' meals and cereal boxes to offer when her children deserve a reward. Another keeps a stash of small items purchased at the nothing-over-a-dollar store. For toddlers, what they receive isn't as important to them as the fact that they are receiving it.
Another way to reward children is through special privileges. If your son had an especially good day in preschool, he may be allowed to choose what book to read at bedtime. If your daughter shared and played well at playgroup, she may help bake cookies. Other privileges children enjoy include selecting a movie from the video store, deciding what to eat for supper or being able to watch a little extra television.