Routines and reward charts. Linda Parry, Parent Support Advisor

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Randolf Lamb
7 years ago
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1 Routines and reward charts

2 Why are routines important? Routines can reduce pressure at home Routines can stop some arguments at home Routines can help children control and manage their behaviour Routines can support everybody at home Routines can help your children settle into school

3 Routines should be kept simple Routines should be simple Routines should be easy to follow Routines should be used as a prompt for parents and children Routine charts can also be used as reward charts and also a reminder to use positive praise

4 Example morning routine 6.30am Get out of Bed. Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday 6.45am Down for breakfast. 7.00am Brush teeth, get washed am Get dressed ready for school if ready on : 7.30am TV 8.30am Leave for school Reward for 3 ticks (progressing to 5) : eg Half hour of mum later that day

5 Example reward chart: Week starting Week starting Week starting Week starting Week starting Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Reward for per week =

6 Some possible rewards: Low cost items Crayons, paper, pencils, colouring books; Surprise small back with little treats, rubbers, marbles etc; Small inexpensive toy; Hire child s choice DVD; Special treat in lunch box; Choosing own breakfast cereal; Special snack/sweet treat after school; Visit to a shop with 20p, 30p, 40p or 50p: Special treats at home Choosing pudding for family; Using telephone; Choice of TV programme; Having a friend over for tea, or overnight; Making play dough (I am sure your school could give you the recipe); Baking/cooking with parents; Special treats outside home Stay with friends or family; Trip to the park; Going to the pictures; Picnic (if it s raining put a blanket in the house to sit on); Going on a scooter/bike ride; Visit to the zoo, museums, library; Go swimming; Walk in a wildlife area and feed ducks: Special treats with parents Baking/making biscuits; Extra bed story; Help plan the day ahead, feel included; Doing puzzles or reading together; Extra play on park with parents; Extra to watch TV with parents; Helping mum/dad around the house, gardening, washing the car make it fun; Having own garden area to grow seeds:

3 possible reasons reward charts might not work: There is no real psychological value to the reward e.g. the child may have lost TV but the TV is still on in the background it may not be their programme but the TV is still on!

It takes a little longer and children will understand we mean it if we, the parent, stick to it. We take the reward away either for a different behaviour e.g. a promise to the park for getting to school on all week.

7 3 possible reasons reward charts might not work: There is no real psychological value to the reward e.g. the child may have lost TV but the TV is still on in the background it may not be their programme but the TV is still on! We, the parents, can get a bit board and either forget to tick, put a smilie face etc., or even think it s been a week they should know by now. It takes a little longer and children will understand we mean it if we, the parent, stick to it. We take the reward away either for a different behaviour e.g. a promise to the park for getting to school on all week. This is achieved but on the last day the child misbehaves in school. Many parents may say well if you think you are going to the park now!!!!! however they had earned that treat take it away for an other behaviour and why should they bother? Perhaps you can still go the park as you have earned that reward, however the consequence (always agreed) for this behaviour at school Is OR we take back the offer because we can t be bothered and we offer something else either way the reward has been taken away. The child won t try so hard next week!

INFORMATION FOR FAMILIES WITH Children/Young people with ADHD/ADD.

INFORMATION FOR FAMILIES WITH Children/Young people with ADHD/ADD. Important first note: Any of the techniques below are less effective with young people who are suffering from Oppositional Defiance Disorder.