Rewards (AKA Jelly Belly Jelly Beans)

We have been trying a new reward system with Gabe: the “Manners Jar”. Gabe earns one jelly bean for every time he answers (without being prompted) “yes Ma’am” or “yes Sir” and quickly obeys what we ask him to do. So far, it’s working GREAT! He’s so motivated by rewards :). It even helps with his bedtime routine and naps, because if he earns one right before bed he knows he will get it when he wakes up only if he’s good. So he goes right to bed and stays there! Life with a sometimes “strong-willed” three-year-old was getting tiring and I was sick of time-outs and counting to 3, so I borrowed ideas from Michelle Duggar and Lisa Whelchel about speaking softly and rewarding good behavior instead of just using punishments all the time. We haven’t done away with punishments all together, but they are few and far between – which is wonderful! I hope Gabe is building lasting habits which won’t disappear once the rewards are phased out. We shall see. For now, we will just enjoy the sweet rewards of implementing this fun new system :). Fun fact: Gabe likes the brown and pink jelly beans the best (brown is still his favorite color, but he has added pink as a favorite so he can be like Mommy and Julia). My favorite Jelly Belly Jelly Bean flavors are “Juicy Pear”, “Buttered Popcorn”, “Top Banana” and “Toasted Marshmallow”. Julia doesn’t eat them, Chris likes them all :).

“Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— “that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” Ephesians 6:2-3

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