Reward System Chart For Kids Age 5-10

Use a Reinforcement System | Where do start | Types of rewards | Tips to remember| Conclusion |

When we want to improve the behavior of a child, the reinforcement system also called, motivation system, is a useful tool and easy to set up to bring positive in the family life! Here are some important points for implementing a reward system for kids age 5-10.

Why use a reinforcement system?

• Modify a behavior;
• Promote the appearance of appropriate behavior;
• Motivate the child
• Emphasize positive behaviors
• Increase the quality of the parent-child relationship.

Where do we start?

Target the behavior to modify or the one we want to appear. When we talk about behavior, we are talking about a concrete action that can be seen or heard.

State the behavior as an objective that must be SMART:

S: Simple, specific and clear

M: Measurable

A: Acceptable and accessible, at the height of what the child is able to achieve

R: Realistic

T: Defined and accurate over time

Reinforcement board

The 3 key points of the success of the system

• Choose a maximum of 3 objectives to begin;
• Integrate a method of gradation of the 3 objectives, from the easiest to the most difficult;
• Establish a bonus point, which will be very easily achieved by the child.

All this promotes the involvement and success of the child!

Establish the reinforcement system

Establish a scoring system according to the objective. Example: Goals 1 and 2 are worth 2 points each and Goal 3 (which is more difficult) is worth 3 points;

The child earns points every day;

The points are given as soon as the behavior is realized;

Do not remove points.

Create the system and use your imagination!

The reinforcement system can be on a sheet, a poster, a laminated paper, in short being imaginative!

Use characters your child likes and customize the reinforcement system with his favorite superhero, for example. Make it with him;

Make daily challenges with the child (e.g., “You miss 3 points to reach a reward, I challenge you to do it, and I know you can!”);

As a tracking tool, use:

Macaroni, Popsicle sticks;

Special buttons that are placed in pots decorated by the child;

Clothespins that are hooked on a rope in the child’s room;

Stars or tights that stick on a big poster

The goal is to make the system visual and fun, both for the child and for you!

Two types of rewards:

1- Hardware

• Toys
• Special food
• Stickers
• Book
• Money

2- Relational or privileges

• Selected activities to do with parents or with a friend. Examples: bathing, playing a board game with a parent, watching a movie together, tinkering
• Special Permission. Examples: to go to bed later, to invite a friend, to return later, leave work, to read a story at bedtime

The rewards system for kids age 5-10

A motivational chart can be used to change a difficult and recurring behavior that the child maintains despite positive verbal reinforcement. Display a painting on the wall, in a place where we can see it. Whenever the child succeeds in the goal (for example, hanging his coat on the wall when returning from the daycare), put tights on the corresponding box. “At the end of the week, if the child had three out of five tights, he will be entitled to a surprise. It is advised to focus on non-material rewards. After three weeks of success, you can increase the difficulty (4 successes out of 5, 5 successes out of 5, a challenge over two weeks …).

Weekday mornings can be stressful, especially when children are reluctant to get ready, too busy playing or watching TV. To avoid having to repeat, psycho educators suggests instituting the privilege withdrawal system. The child is entitled to 20 minutes of iPad or television … unless he has not prepared properly and within a reasonable time. In addition, the consequence is logical. Losing something that belongs to us or is believed to be right is more frustrating than not getting something extra.

When a child has inappropriate behavior at the table (he gets up, gets on his knees, puts his feet on the table, etc.), it is unrealistic to require him to behave properly for the duration of the meal. For small successes, the meal period can be divided into short periods (five two-minute periods, for example). When a child behaves well for two minutes, he can draw a smiley man on a sheet.

There are obvious applications to make sharing tasks more fun at home. Parents can draw up a task list and associate a number of points with each one. They also determine the number of points needed to earn rewards. Since it is a game and children can win prizes (including new monsters), this tool adds a playful side to the sharing of tasks.

Some tips to remember when using the reinforcement system

The involvement of the child in the choices leads him to get involved in the process since these are his choices. The table has a significant value for him;

It is important to balance the reinforcements so that there are not only material rewards. Let’s not forget that one of the goals of reinforcement systems is to improve the quality of the parent-child relationship;

The implementation of commitments is also important! When we determine a rewarding moment, we do it, it comes first!

Ensure that the tool is maintained as soon as it is integrated and that it is understood and realized by both mom and dad, regardless of the marital status of the parents.

In Conclusion

At every age, kids have behaviors that adults would like to see changed. In both schools and private practice, many psychologists and educators use reward systems to help them achieve this.

Reward systems can take different forms: motivation chart, token bags, reinforcement techniques … Instead of adding a reward, some approaches rely on the removal of privilege instead.