How to Use a Reward Jar to Improve a Child's Behavior

A reward jar is an easy way to use positive reinforcement with children. By focusing on their positive behaviors, you will encourage them to repeat these behaviors.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• clear jar
• blocks, marbles, or other items to place in the jar

1. Find a container for your reward jar. Any clear container will work. Decide what you will use to fill the jar. Marbles, blocks, or other small objects work well.

2. Decide how many marbles your child must earn before receiving the reward. For younger children, you may want to keep the number small so they don't get bored with the positive reinforcement system. Ten or 20 may be a good number to start with.

3. Decide on the reward once the goal is achieved. It could be a toy, a trip to the zoo or other favorite location, a trip to the ice cream store, or whatever else will motivate your child.

4. Explain to your child how the reward jar system will work. Explain that when your child does something good, a marble will be placed in the reward jar. Once he has earned all of the marbles, he will receive a reward. Make sure your child understands how the reward jar system will work.

5. Start using the reward jar system right away. When your child makes a good decision or behaves well, add a marble to the reward jar. Make sure you tell your child you are placing a marble in the jar and explain why he received the marble. Tell your child specifically which behavior earned him a marble so that the behavior is reinforced. For example, "I like the way you picked up all of your blocks without being asked." It is very important that your child understands why he earned a marble for this system to be effective.

6. After all of the marbles are earned, reward your child. You can then empty the reward jar and start over.

Tips & Warnings

• Any container will work as your reward jar. You could recycle a food jar or find another container around the house.
• To get your child more involved, use paints and stickers to decorate the reward jar.
• If you have a specific behavior or behaviors that you want to address, you can focus on those with the reward jar. If you want your child to use manners, he can earn a marble each time he uses his manners. This can apply to any behavior.
• If it seems that your child is earning rewards very quickly, consider increasing the number of marbles he must earn to receive a reward.
• If it seems to take a long time to earn a reward and your child is getting frustrated or bored, consider lowering the number of marbles necessary for a reward.
• You can practice counting with your child by counting the marbles after the reward is achieved.