Halos And Rainbows

Rather Rascally Rewards!

There are so many reward systems that if one doesn’t work there are a million other ways to use a reward as a tool.

Reward charts work well with older kids or the ones that can understand. Always tailor them to something that interests your child and make them easily achievable to start with. Sometimes waiting a whole week for the treat is far too long; I never go for more than a day, although a bigger treat can be earned for a full week.

I like to give a sticker; large plastic caught being good or kind coin, or something little like a home made token for being good. Five of these can be traded in for a small prize, the small prize and 5 more can be traded for something a bit better, or work your way up to 10.

Ping, pong balls or marbles in an old sweet jar is a good way to keep track. Anything as long as they can touch or see how good they’ve been.

Make a road and move the cars along to the garage.

Make a wind charm and hang the fairies on it.

Make a mountain and move the climber up.

Make a stable and get the horses in or out.

Let them help you make the chart and they’ll be more interested in gaining a reward they’ve helped think up and design. Always agree what the reward can be and how much effort needs to be made to get it.

I start at a 15 minute sticker for being good, if we don’t make 15 minutes, we don’t get a sticker etc at the end and have to try for the next 15 minutes, this helps with telling the time too, gradually move the timing further apart, 30 minutes, 45 minutes and finally an hour. Do not start again from the time you’ve failed or you have too many times to remember if you have more than one child and it gets complicated, with little people thinking they missed out twice if their timing is later.

Weekly charts for things like putting shoes away or not wetting the bed are fine if there is a chance of achieving a whole week, loosing a weeks worth or reward for one mishap doesn’t work, you need to have a different reward for however many days or nights are achieved. Small reward for one night, large for all week. Do not allow the reward chart to become a punishment

Micky Manners is a Magical Munchmot (bit like a meercat)in a mini with Marvellous Manners, he likes to help us sound magnificent!

Good manners are important and so easy to use. These are Micky’s basics and easily popped into your day without much effort.

Always say please and thank you and poppet will learn. Start thank you with “tar” as soon as possible as it’s easier for little mouths. Just say it as you hand anything over and when poppet grows a little, take it back unless you get a tar when prompted. “Please may I?” always sounds lovely.

Excuse me - super simple remember to say it and in shops etc remind them to say it to pass someone.

Pardon - do not allow “what?” Or “eh?” Always correct this and remember to use yours correctly too. “I’m sorry could you repeat that?” if for bigger people after all.

Pardon me - if they pass wind sound surprised and say pardon you, it’s ok to giggle about it but always say it, there will be giggles later on so don’t outlaw them.

Holding Doors for grown ups - a lot of grown-ups don’t do this but I think it should happen. Pushchair People often need a hand with heavy doors and struggle. Once they’re big enough prompt them to hold the door for the lady etc, they will usually get a surprised “thank-you”. Make sure if you are last into the door to check for someone behind you and if necessary hold the door, your little people will pick this up and accept it as natural.

Elbows off the table - go on we all remember having that screamed at us. Remind your little angels to eat with spoon, fork and eventually knife and to sit nicely at the table, this stops people staring when you eat out. There is a whole host of acceptable table behaviours but the basics are easy enough.

Remember manners should happen without much effort if you use yours as these behaviours will be copied without thinking.

Micky Manners Says “My magical manners make me marvelous!”

Daisy is an old bright yellow, split screened camper van and the Star of Halos and Rainbows.  She's a bit of a hippy and would save the whole world tomorrow if she could, she came to life on a magical adventure and would like you to remember all the good things you can Doo to save our planet.

Love and Huggles

Pinks

***

Doo pop your rubbish in the right bin

***

Doo make your own baby food and freeze it in your used baby food jars - you know what went in there, it saves money as you can pop a little of whatever you are cooking away for a quick lunch another day and you can easily take them with you!  They can be reused many times - have fun!

***

Doo use concentrated fabric conditioner

***

Doo eat fresh fruit every day

***

Doo eat yummy vegetables

***

Doo turn off taps and lights when you’ve finished with them

***

Doo have a little less water in your bath or better still - shower, it uses far less water

***

Doo pop washing out on the line to dry on nice days

***

Doo clothes re cycleing; been admiring your friends kids cloths?  How about starting a clothes swap between a few families with kids of different ages before using worn out clothes for dusters and car cleaning cloths?

***

Doo remember to switch things off properly, that little standby light can actually use as much energy as leaving them on full, just think of the extra pennies on that power bill, sigh.

***

Doo use a cotton washcloth instead of a natural sponge or sadly you are contributing to stripping the ocean floor, even tho' it is soft an nice and most artificial sponges are made of polyurathane.

Doo remember to have fun every day

In an environmentally friendly way!