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Using a reward system to encourage children to comply with your demands is extremely effective. A Crafty Mother knows how to strike a deal on the spot; put every decision in black and white. If this, then that; right or wrong, good or bad. I’m a mommy version of Monty Hall from “Let’s Make A Deal”.
The 'dangling carrot' is without doubt, the most effective tool a crafty Mother (Parent) can use to achieve results, whatever they may be. Let them know their reward is within reach. Just know the boundaries of using the method effectively.
I was putting the kids to bed one steamy summer night. The shades had been drawn and we had stayed in air conditioning all day due to a heat wave. The kids hadn’t noticed that they were going to bed an hour early.
After going potty, brushing teeth and climbing into bed, the toddler, who had skipped his nap, lay down without much resistance, but the five year old caught on to the early hour and said, “Hey, wait a minute, it’s still light out!”
I was really ready to call it a day. So, before the five-year old got so far as recruiting his brother out of bed, I whipped out a proverbial dangling carrot from my back pocket and said, “get in bed, stay in bed, and tomorrow,” I paused, “I’ll give you chocolate for breakfast.”
You would think the kid had an ‘off switch’. Immediately, though excited with the thoughts of chocolate, the five-year old complied. He knows I keep my end of a deal, and he’s learned to keep his. If he wants something badly enough, he’ll do what it takes, and so will I. Going to bed and staying in bed in exchange for the dangling carrot du jour is a pretty reliable system with us.
I had my kids in bed, quiet and still an hour before the sun went down. The sensible, yet crafty, Mother was triumphant, once again!
The Carrot du Jour has ranged from toy trains, to Hot Wheels, to outings, to chocolate for breakfast! It can be anything, really.
The chocolate for breakfast, by the way is a slight exaggeration. It does the job to get them to comply and may suggest sweet dreams, but, by the time they wake up the next morning, they likely forget about the deal, but, when it comes up, I will come through with a Hershey Kiss after a healthy breakfast, for good measure.
Nothing gets my kids to fall in line more effectively then the promise of chocolate. Thank you, Mr. Hershey!
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