I heard about this from my mum, whom is a director of a childcare center, she claims that it works wonders and

Its called "Catch 'em being good" Now I did not come up with that catch phrase but I have written about positive parenting in the past and this article is 100% my own, I just love that Catch phrase, and the link will take you to an article called, Catch em being good, which I recommend.

It works like this: Instead of noticing and pointing out bad behaviours (which I’m sure we all do, because bad behaviours are more noticeable) Notice and point out ALL good behaviours!

Children crave and need attention, and if it becomes easier for them to get attention through bad behaviour than that will be the method they will use to get attention. Attention, good or bad, is still attention to a child.

If they see a sibling always get in trouble for regular bad behaviours they might start behaving bad also to compete for this attention, even though its bad attention.

Now it is easier said then done, it can be hard to remember to focus on the good behaviours. So I have come up with a way of keeping on track and focused.

It’s called a Good Behaviours Rewards Chart.

I set it up like a weekly chores chart except done the side I write good behaviours like:

Offering to help taking turns ate all meals without a fuss
• Using Manners
• Staying on task
• tidying up after yourself
• being nice to others

The list can be anything you like, look at what behaviours problems you have, think of what the opposite behaviours is then write it down. Each day as they do these things you give it a tick or a star. I then set a weekly goal, for example, 12 times a week (7 days) for each task. If they meet that goal by the end of the week they get rewarded.

Rewards do not have to be money; they can be many things like:

• trips to the park
• movie night
• trips to the zoo
• special 'rewards' cupcakes
• you could make awards for them
• a sticker book, which they can collect 'good' stickers in

I found that with in 2 days of starting this my children no longer fight my 'bad' attention; they now try to get as many rewards ticks a day as they can! That means I am overwhelmed with GOOD behaviors! YAY...

This is an example of what our rewards chart looks like, I set up a template on Excel so each week I can simply print of a new one, and add or change the behaviours.

Another tip is, when they do misbehave, keep the punishments consistant and follow through. If you use time outs as a punishment, keep using time outs that way the child knows what to expect from bad behaviour.

Hope this helps,

Angie