If you like to use a variety of kids printable charts around your home to modify and encourage behavior, you know that motivation is a big deal. All children are different, of course, but here are three ideas that I have used with success with my four children to keep motivation high and results high.
1. Make it fun.
Depending on what you are trying to achieve, you may be using printable reward charts, blank task charts, or printable behavior charts. The main point of keeping the whole process bubbling with a little fun is vital. Chances are, what you are asking your child to accomplish is not fun or you would not need a graphics system to get started!
– Use short-term rewards to teach about initiative and long-term rewards to teach about perseverance. Both are vital lessons and neither comes naturally. As your child develops good habits, the short-term rewards may be reduced, but until then keep things upbeat and fun.
– Even housework can be turned into a game. Can one child go faster than the other? Set a timer for ten minutes; Who can do it, correctly, in that period of time? Add music, jokes, and encouragement to the mix.
2. Teamwork.
Most children will cooperate more voluntarily when working alongside another person. That is also true for most adults. Sure, your kids need to be able to do their assigned chores or work on their behaviors at any given time, but adding some teamwork to the mix can really boost motivation. My little daughter is learning to play the keyboard. That involves daily practice and is often boring. But more than just wanting her to learn and enjoy the musical experience (as wonderful as it is), you will never get there without learning the discipline of good daily habits. So, after many years away from the piano, I am re-learning with her, including daily practice. It is much more interesting to share our journey with others and this technique is also much less annoying.
3. Put your charges in charge, a little.
Depending on the ages of your children, help them learn to run a home by giving them the opportunity to be responsible for it from time to time. You set the schedule for your own situation, write everything on your printable charts so everyone knows what’s going on and when, and then have your kids in charge for a week here and there.
They will discover that it is a very different game to try to manage the household than to simply show up and take orders. Competitive schedules, different personalities, and the realities of everyday life are a great attitude adjustment for growing kids. Of course, you will need to help and guide them, depending on their ages, and a child who tackles this project deserves a better reward than the one who only does his small part of the load.
Printable charts for kids are great tools when used effectively. Remember that keeping the process fun, employing teamwork, and giving your kids a shred of real responsibility can help keep motivation high and results strong.