Your child lashes out every time they do not get their way. You feel like you have tried everything to get them to change this particular behavior but nothing has worked, and you don’t know what to do next. Does this sound familiar? You are not alone if you are struggling with how to change a behavior and keep peace in your home.
Behavior charts are a good way to work with your children on their behavior, but it is important to use them correctly. The best way to make them a part of your everyday life is to make them a positive experience. It is also helpful to make your child a part of creating them and using them.
It is also important to keep focused on only one or two behaviors at a time. If you clutter a chart up with to many things you probably won’t see a change in any of them.
To get started talk to your child about what you would like to work on. You can then either make up a chart or go on the computer and print one off. Hang it in a prominent place in your home. Set weekly or daily goals for your child to accomplish so they can mark their progress on their chart. Have small prizes on hand to give them when they reach their goals, but make sure they have to work for them.
To be successful it is better to emphasize the positive and not make it negative. Don’t threaten to take away points on their chart if they slip, but talk about how they could have done something different to earn a point instead. If you keep with it, you will see changes before you know it.