CanExplores

Parenting can be difficult, and knowing what to do can make situations frustrating and confusing. We understand the struggle is real, the need is instant, and the desire is deep. Making rules without understanding the limitations of your child can be damaging.

Understanding the child’s developmental ability, emotional state, and reasoning helps place expectations and consequences. A few tips that may help are rewards, schedules, and charts. Allowing the child to build the chart, make the schedule, or plan the results may be beneficial as they are invested in the activity.

Examples could be:

Choose a jar and add marbles:
1. Each marble is a reward for good behavior or actions
decide on the number of marbles for a prize out of the prize bag
2. If a consequence is needed, use the marbles (take out two marbles for each action)
*prize bag– little things your child likes but does not receive regularly. It can be noted saying ‘one hour fee time’ or ‘choose dinner tonight.’

Behavior charts or think sheets may work for your child to help them reframe their thoughts and actions. We have added a few on this page as examples.

Using a chart:

1. Make a chart out of something the child enjoys cars, dolls, dinosaurs, or something else easy to draw, or find a picture you can copy
2. Add your expectations to one area or side and the benchmarks for rewards
3. You can also use the bag or prize bag or a list of rewards in a jar or bag to pick from

Think Sheets