Afraid of the Doctor by Meghan L. Marsac & Melissa J. Hogan

Author:Meghan L. Marsac & Melissa J. Hogan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Published: 2021-04-16T00:00:00+00:00

Reward charts can help to interrupt this frustrating cycle and set up a system in which you and your child are working together to achieve your goals, though the goals may be different: your goal may be for your child to cooperate so an appointment is less stressful for everyone and goes more smoothly. Your child’s goal may be to earn their reward, but the outcome is that the behavior you need to happen happens.

TIPS FOR CREATING REWARD CHARTS

Choose one behavior or goal at a time. Sometimes when things are feeling stressful or challenging with a child, parents can rattle off a full list of behavior changes they’d like their child to make. It can be hard to narrow it down to start small. You may want to start with either (a) the behavior that you are most likely to be able to change or (b) the behavior that is creating the most stress for your child or you.

Set clear expectations. Take time to ensure your child understands their new job or expectation. Imagine that you are at work and your boss has set a new goal for you but doesn’t tell you what it is or doesn’t explain it clearly. This can be incredibly frustrating. Similarly, children can become frustrated when they do not know or understand what is expected of them.

Set goals low, and grow slowly over time. When you first set up a reward chart, make sure your child can achieve your expectations. When your child earns their reward, you both win. The goal is that your child will begin to engage in the behavior over time, even without the reward. This allows you to build in new goals. If your child begins easily achieving their goals, then you can praise them for it and make a new goal.

Set reasonable rewards. Think about your child and your family. Different children respond to different types of rewards. For example, some children may enjoy choosing a favorite meal, while others might prefer choosing a game to play with the family. Teenagers may prefer to earn screen time, time with friends, or money. Some parents choose to use tangible rewards such as stickers or toys. Some parents buy or make a treasure chest with a range of rewards the child can choose from. Be sure to choose a reward that works for you as a parent as well.

Consider your child’s age and cognitive ability. Can your child understand earning points, stickers, or tokens to turn in for a prize later? Or do they need an immediate reward?

Do it together. Once you have decided what goal you are setting and have an idea of a reward, you may want to sit down with your child and create the chart together. This can help your child get excited about the rewards or become more comfortable with the new plan.

Behavior charts often need to be modified over time. Sometimes the rewards lose their effect and need to be adjusted as well.

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