Stickers, stickers!

I just have to share one of the cheapest and easiest things I've ever done for my kids (and my borrowed after school kids)

I have established a very simple sticker chart system. Just little pieces of colored paper, I write the names of the kids on their own piece and every time they follow the rules correctly, or I catch them being extra good, they get a sticker. I find this is so much more positive and effective than negative attention. So far, a full month into school, the kids are all still going strong with this. The after school kids get a chance to show their moms and dads all the stickers, and I've been told they really love to take them home and show them off. My own two love them as well and we display them on our family bulletin board.

I've seen lots of "reward" charts and such for sale. I'm sure they have their place, but I find this is so simple and cheap! I wouldn't be so quick to want to give away a chart that cost me money to buy.. After one full month of use, I've barely made a dent in the paper supply, and I am about 1/2 way through the stickers (which is a great thing, more stickers used means better behaviour!) I bought a very simple "treasure" box to store the stickers in, and make for more fun choosing them.

My total cost for this:
Treasure box - $1.29
Stickers - approx $3.00
Paper - $1.29 for 100 sheets

So, less than $6 invested!

:)