+44 (0)207 610 9218

A Simple Guide to Rewards & Sanctions

Rewards & Sanctions - A Simple Guide Saying ‘well done’ to your charges when they’ve behaved well or achieved something new is the most powerful thing you can do to reinforce that behaviour and see it repeated. Likewise, a consistent regime for dealing with undesirable behaviour is the most likely way to smooth it out. As with all aspects of discipline, parents will have specific wishes for how you manage their children in their absence, so always run your ideas past the parents before getting your rewards and sanctions system underway.

Most children will be able to understand the concept of a reward chart by the time they are three years old, so why not give it a go? The simplest way to do this is to award stickers or stars for good behaviour, and once a certain number has been collected, a bigger reward is given. Talk this over with their parents and see what they think: some children will be motivated by a trip to the cinema or to the zoo; others will collect stickers for a much-wanted new toy or book. And some children will collect reward stickers simply for the joy or receiving stickers – no bigger prize needed!

Alternatively, more immediate rewards can be given out from a special bag or box, filled with small but fun things for a ‘lucky dip.’ And likewise, a similar bag or box can be used for confiscating items when bad behaviour crops up. Keep this ‘sin bin’ somewhere visible, so that your charges know where their beloved toy has gone – and what they have to do (or stop doing!) in order to get it back.

TEN GOLDEN RULES OF REWARD CHARTS
  1. Focus on one behaviour at a time
  2. Make the target behaviour something that is easily achievable
  3. Work with your child - ask how they think they can improve their behaviour
  4. Ensure that your child is very clear about which kind of behaviour will be rewarded
  5. Engage them in buying/making/choosing the reward chart and the stickers
  6. Let your child choose the reward (within reason.. but still making it something they enjoy!)
  7. Reward the behaviour with a sticker whenever it’s achieved
  8. Use a menu of rewards: 2 stickers - extra bedtime story / 4 stickers - library visit / 6 stickers - trip to the park
  9. Don’t start too young - it’s a complicated concept for under-threes to grasp
  10. Don’t pit siblings against each other.

Finally, it is generally best to avoid using food as a reward (or a sanction) as this will likely create unhealthy attitudes to treats. Bear in mind that misbehaviour is often just a means for getting attention, so be sure that your charges’ needs are bring met sufficiently before setting plans in motion for sanctions. Above all, the most powerful reward you can give your charges is your time.

Do you have any top tips for managing behaviour in your household? Come on over to our Facebook page and share your advice with the Nannies of St. James community!

Share this article

Back to Latest News

+44 (0)207 610 9218