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We all know how I feel about 3. I have a love/hate relationship with 3. I love seeing all of the new things that Ethan is learning and how his independence is growing. I love seeing how smart he is becoming and his true personality shining through. What I hate is the attitude? You know the one. The “I’m 3 and I know everything.” The “I’m the boss. I’ll do what I want.”
We have tried numerous disciplinary techniques. All of which this three year old has chewed up and spit out. Time outs no longer work (he knows he can just get up). Sending him to his room sometimes works but who wouldn’t want to go their room? It’s filled with toys! We’ve tried taking things away which only leads to an even longer temper tantrum.
Finally, I decided to start focusing on the good things he was doing, instead of the bad. This week we have implemented the “catch them being good” technique. When we catch Ethan doing good or being a big helper, he gets to pick a prize out of the prize box.
The prize box is filled with all kinds of Dollar Store Treasures (puzzles, drawing paper, little toys, etc) that are kept in the same basket. All of the prizes are wrapped so that he doesn’t know what is in the box.
We showed him the box earlier this week and explained the “rules”.
Rule #1 – You don’t ask for a prize from the box.
Rule #2 – You get whatever you pick. No trades.
Rule #3 – Only Mommy and Daddy can let you pick a prize from the box.
So far, so good. This week, Ethan has earned two prizes: one for putting his toys away in his room (without any prompting) and one for a great day at pre-school.
I’m not sure how long this system will last but it’s working for us now.
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brook says
January 26, 2012 at 12:05 pmwhat a great idea! i’m stealing it!
Heather says
January 27, 2012 at 9:40 pmI love this idea! I will have to try this when my daughter is older!
uneeka jay (@powermommy) says
January 29, 2012 at 5:50 pmThis works with adults also! LOL! A good read would be Whale Done by Ken Blanchard
stephanie @ babe's rockin' mami says
January 29, 2012 at 8:45 pmI love when I’m at a loss and I come up with something and it works! Yay prize box! We have a sticker chart for potty that comes with m&ms and if he gets three warnings he has to go to bed. We call it going to bed instead of going to your room because he hates that.
Stephanie says
January 29, 2012 at 9:24 pmWe’re doing something similar in that we are doing positive reinforcements. C earns 5 stars for 1) keeping hands to self (and not on baby brother) 2) not repeating himself and 3) good listening. Once he earns 5, he gets to play with a special toy that we keep out of reach for just this occasion. It’s still a work in progress, but we’re getting there! Four MUST be easier… right???
Barb @ A Life in Balance says
January 30, 2012 at 5:51 amAfter 5 kids, I can tell you that 3 IS a tough age. They’re getting independent, but…they don’t grasp consequences and listening yet. You just have to keep at it until one day you see that glimmer in their eyes. Aha, they understand!
Good luck!
{Not Quite} Susie Homemaker says
March 3, 2012 at 2:47 amLove it! My second grade teacher had something like this & I loved it. Totally going to do this for my little dude!
Steph says
March 3, 2012 at 9:46 amIt has really helped! He loves being caught doing something good and he’s been a really big helper lately!