Your Baby – July 2019

YB BABY FILES: TODDLER

68 | JULY & AUGUST 2019

Image: Gallo Images/Getty Images

EVERYONE ENJOYS working for a
reward that acknowledges hard work,
whether it’s a salary, a pat on the back or
even a special award.
The rewards for a stay-at-home mom
are quite subtle, like a wet kiss on the
cheek or that amazing moment when
your little one is asleep and looks just like
an angel.
Like with adults, a reward is an
excellent way to encourage acceptable
behaviour in your child. A reward
chart can help with anything from potty
training, brushing teeth and sleeping in
her own bed to tidying up her toys.
To really make it work, though, you
need to follow a few guidelines. We
consulted with psychologists Andri Burger
and Annemarike de Beer of Synergy
Psychological Services in Johannesburg
and Pretoria, and they shared their
advice here below.

WHY A REWARD CHART?
The aim of a reward chart is to reinforce
good behaviour. A reward chart is a
physical presentation of an agreement
between you and your child. It helps you
as a parent to focus on aims, to keep

You little star!

Reward charts are fantastic to teach children

cooperation – provided you use them in the right way,

writes Shanda Luyt

record and to judge which behaviour

has improved, and which behaviour

still needs some attention. You can use

a reward chart for any behaviour that

needs to be changed.

Reward charts work well for children

under 12 years. So, if you’d like to

establish this method to motivate your

young child, you’ll still be able to use

it well into the future to guide her to

better behaviour, while she learns to

work towards important things at the

same time.

Ironically, the success of a reward

chart mainly lies with you. If you apply it

correctly and consistently, it works

for most children, because everyone

needs acknowledgment.

A child who’s continuously in trouble

with you ends up knowing exactly what

she shouldn’t do, but she doesn’t know

what she should do and what is correct.

Reward charts help children to

understand what is acceptable behaviour.

So, they have a bigger chance to be

successful and be acknowledged.

Even if a reward chart is external

motivation, it does help children to feel

proud of themselves and later become

internally motivated.

WHY DO REWARD CHARTS WORK?

A big benefit of reward charts is that

they allow you to improve behaviour in

a positive way rather than with

Reward charts

help children to

understand what

is acceptable

behaviour. So,

they have a bigger

chance to be

successful and be

acknowledged