Are rewards and sticker charts for children a good idea?
Is using rewards and sticker charts the best way to encourage my toddler to behave better?
Carole Saad, co-author with her husband Nadim of Kids Don't Come With A Manual (published by Best of Parenting, £12.99 or £6.99 on Kindle), says: "While such systems can certainly be effective in the short-term, the reward chart system teaches kids that the only point in being well-behaved is that they'll be rewarded for it.
"Indeed, research shows that the external motivation provided by the reward becomes stronger than the internal motivation of simply behaving the way they should.
"This means that if you constantly reward your child for something now, you are effectively reducing the chance for them to repeat that behaviour again unless they're cajoled with more rewards.
'Parents who rely on sticker charts and reward systems also find that children end up asking for bigger rewards '
"Parents who rely on sticker charts and reward systems also find that children end up asking for bigger rewards as they grow older, and it can become the subject of endless negotiations.
"So how do we increase our toddlers' internal motivation to behave better? Give choices: offer two choices that suit you. For example ask your toddler: 'Would you like to brush your teeth yourself or shall I help you?', or 'Would you like to pick up your toys now or after a snack?'
"Give age-appropriate tasks: it's vital that children learn to be 'helpers' for the intrinsic motivation of having a useful role rather than for the promise of a reward, so enlist their help and make them feel useful."
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