Using the General Store to positively reinforce your child's good behaviour and completed chores obviously doesn't mean handing your child five tokens every time they clean their room, all through childhood! The goal is rather to get your child to do their chores or take on challenges first thanks to extrinsic motivation (I tidy my room because I'll get five tokens afterwards) and then because of a lasting habit they've built thanks to intrinsic motivation (I tidy my room because I understand it's nice to live in a clean, orderly environment).
So it's best to target only a few chores or challenges at a time and break them down into a few steps, so your child has time to develop a solidly acquired habit that they'll end up repeating without even thinking about it and, above all, without feeling the need for a reward for their work. Here's a concrete example of the pace you could adopt if you'd like your child to end up packing their own lunch every morning:
Step 1:
Your child puts all the items of their lunch (which you've prepared beforehand) into their lunch box themselves. If they do, they receive three tokens (or any other amount you've decided on) to use in the General Store.
Step 2 (once your child does the first step independently or without reminders):
Your child prepares only part of their lunch (the raw veggies to go with their sandwich, the fruit for dessert, etc.) and receives three tokens to use in the General Store.
Step 3 (once your child does the second step independently or without reminders):
Your child prepares their entire lunch (our label for the lunch box and our printable can definitely give them a helping hand!) and receives three tokens to use in the General Store.
Step 4 (once your child does the fourth step independently or without reminders):
Your child prepares their entire lunch and no longer gets tokens for it, since it's now a habit and they're ready to take on new challenges!
Step 5
Now it's time to assign your child new chores or set new challenges, starting the process over from step one, of course!
Don't hesitate to adjust the number of tokens awarded based on your child's level of motivation for a chore or challenge, or on how difficult it is and how long it takes. Also, make sure to take the time needed for each step so you create a habit that will last!
Would you like to be the first to see all the content published in the Magazine each month, and have access to our Toolbox, which includes free downloads that are both practical and fun? Subscribe to Belles Combines Magazine now!