About a month ago I was where I suppose most mothers of toddlers get occasionally, tired and frustrated with outbursts of “bad behavior.” I got on pinterest and saw that one of my friends that has a toddler as well pinned a behavior chart, well SEVERAL behavior charts. Here is my favorite. I talked to Troy and we both asked the couple how they were dealing with the “terrible toddler” phase…. they had no answers for us except it is normal and they are living it too! To most I am sure that both of us have “good kids” but we expect more than normal, bad behavior may come and go and be normal, but is not acceptable. We as a majority agree that we do not want our children to grow up and be “typical” teenagers, that we expect them to be different when they are older, shouldn’t we be training them to be “different” from the beginning? Everyone has bad days from infants to adults, but how do we limit those days to few.
I decided I try the behavior chart, its inexpensive and what would it hurt?
It cost me $1.47 for 5 sheets of small colored poster board.
$2 for stickers ( I made a chart for my daughter, one for my son, and a “rules” chart. so we needed boy and girl sticker books)
Thats all! $3.47 and I have enough to make more if needed or wanted!
I loved the concept of the behavior chart, focusing on the positives throughout the day rather than always saying “NO, STOP” etc. We all got sick, so we didn’t start until last week, but it is amazing! Jacy is like a whole new person, she still has her times of unruly. For only been a week there is an immense difference! Jagger is still young to understand but loves when he does something to get his stickers too! I read somewhere that children continue to act unruly more because that is the only attention that they are receiving, I admit that I was spending most of my time getting on to my children instead of telling them how proud I am of them when they are doing good things or acting great! This has been eye opening to me and so helpful to my family!
What I have learned most this past week is that we all need positive reinforcements. No matter our age, we all need someone to compliment us, thank us, appreciate us, notice when we do something good occasionally. It makes adults feel good, teenagers enjoy being appreciated and younger children thrive on praise. Its not wrong to want people to notice our accomplishments and achievements, it doesn’t make us selfish, its human nature.
God says that we need to love one another, uplift one another and be kind to one another.
I hope that you and I will try to do something nice for someone, compliment someone, try to focus on the good in people not the flaws and errors. I know it is much easier to see what my children are doing wrong, and it takes intent to notice the good instead. In turn they act so much better.
Have a blessed week!
In Him,
Meagan
A CHRISTIAN MOMMY 