Footloose - Motivating Kids With Rewards

When I was in middle school in the late 1980's/ very early 1990's name brand clothing was EVERYTHING, particularly at my suburban Etobicoke school.  My parents didn't subscribe to the same brand of cool as my classmates and most of my clothes were hand-me-downs from my preppy older sister.  My parents priorities were getting us fed and saving for post secondary education for three kids, so they'd never drop the same amount of coin on a Club Monaco sweatshirt, or whatever else was the flavour of the week, especially since I was still growing.

One day I came home to a pair of brand new women's Nike Air runners in the front hallway of our house.  They were my mom's, but just the same I was smitten, we were practically the same shoe size after-all.  After hours of me playing dress-up with my mom's shoes like I was five instead of 13 and begging for her to let me wear them to school, just once, my parents cut me a deal.

I've always been the least athletic of my siblings and my dad was always looking for a way to inspire me to find something active to fall in love with.  My parents told me that if I jogged, an intended purpose of running shoes, at least 25 times over the next two months the shoes would be mine.  I was motivated and I ran, a lot, because I wanted those shoes!

In just over six weeks, I "earned" the shoes.  I went for maybe three other jogs that year, all in my new kicks, and most of them related to my dad hounding me to go for a run and practically begging me to "Just Do It".  As an adult I get how frustrating this must have been for my parents, and I understand why they did it.  Falling in love with a sport can lead to a life-long healthy habit.

The best kid response to my new running habit

I didn't run again, aside from gym class, for years.  I took up running "for reals" in my first year of university as a measure to combat the freshman fifteen and then again in my mid-twenties when I ran my first 10KM (a Nike Sponsored run - I guess they still inspired me, over a decade later).  I picked up running again in January this year for the first time since before I was pregnant, and I've fallen back in love with it, only this time Nike isn't involved.

On the parenting front we've had trouble motivating Jack to work on his writing.  He'll barely sit through the Occupational Therapist prescribed five to ten minutes a day and a lot of the time he's just going through the motions to get us off his back.

Last week I came across a sold out Lego Toy he wanted and I bought it for him, but he could have it under one condition - he dedicate some real concerted effort on his writing and reading every single day for a week.  This toy, sits on top of a shelf in our living room and Jack can look at it and hold it, in all of its packaged glory, for one minute each day after he successfully completes his reading and writing assignments. His writing has improved dramatically, and it's only been a week.  It doesn't hurt that we write out words that are meaningful and important to him like Captain Underpants, Batman, C3PO, and Hulk, On Friday he'll have earned his toy and I can't help but think back to those running shoes.

I have no clue what next week will bring, and if or when I'll buy another goal toy to "dangle the carrot" right away to keep the progress going or not.  Maybe I'll tell Jack that he and I both need to start saving our money, something tells me I owe my mom a pair of retro Nike Airs.

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The Alphabet Song - Teaching Letters & Numbers to your Pre-Schooler

When we went for our parent teacher interviews a couple of weeks ago of a big focus of our discussion was on increasing letter and number recognition to assist the minions in becoming reading and math ready in a year and a half when they go to grade one.  Both kids, for whatever reason, are obsessed with being in SK next year and we've told them both that they need to be better readers and counters to get there (subtle manipulative motivation on our part).

Thanks to some research and some awesome suggestions from both Molly and Jack's teachers I am happy to provide 9 simple tips to help improve your pre-schooler or kindergardener improve their counting/math skills and letter recognition, Thankfully none of them involve flash cards.

N is for Ninja Turtles (obviously) - Drawing by Molly age 4.

9 Ways to make your kid a better reader and counter!

1. Make them sign their namesWhether it's on greeting cards or artwork, get them to practice their signature at every possible opportunity. Beware that one off signatures are probably a better idea than getting too ambitious.  On Valentine's Day I wanted to have each child sign all of their class Valentines for printing practice.  56 cards later only 13 were signed by Molly and 43 by me because Jack claimed he was "too scared to sign his name". The person who got the most "practice" was yours truly.
2. Point out letters when you're reading to them
   During story time Chris and I routinely point to random letters every few pages and ask both kids to identify our selection.  If it's later at night we opt for more familiar letters, like those in their names.
3. Label their artwork
   Your kid just drew a kick ass dog, label it with a D for Dog and point it out.  Or give them a D sticker to affix to the picture themselves.  Molly's teacher said just the first letter is ambitious enough for most kids aged three to six (pre-school through Senior Kindergarten).
4. Remember those letter blocks from when they were babies?  Bring em out!
   Have them build a castle for one of their dolls or toys that only uses the letters in their, or another family member's name.  Ask for the blocks when you're building with them using the colours on them as well as letter names that they are familiar with to help build their confidence.
5. Point out letters and numbers on street signs
   This is a great activity when you're out or on a lengthy car trip or a walk.  Consider playing a game of I Spy involving numbers and letters.
6. Make them Count!
   Have them count the number of people in the room who have asked for ice cream, make them count out the number of pretzels you're serving for snack, or the number of tea spoons or cups when they're helping you with a recipe.   
7. Get some Hello My Name is Tags
   Put them on guests and family members to display names, initials, and ages to help with their recognition.
8. Increase access to writing instruments and letters
   Bath tub crayons can have them drawing, and writing their names while they bathe.  Use a chalk board or magnets to display what you're serving for supper that night.  Parents beware: Jack's Domo monster has marker all over his mouth because Jackie decided it was a good idea to draw food in his mouth to eat.  Washable writing tools are probably the best bet.
9. Buy books on topics and characters they love
   Jack loves rockets and space, so we bought him some books on space to read.  He also is in love with the Little Critter books (He calls the main character little Chritterfer which is pretty adorable).  The Little Critter books bore Molly to tears (which she's been very vocal about), her current go to books are a series of Girl Power, 5 minute stories and The Frog and Toad Treasury Storybook.  Another option when children are learning the letters in their names is the personalized "Lost Their Name" book series where a child gets a story focused on learning the letters in their own names.
   
   
   

   

   Molly's Little Girl Who Lost Her Name Book, A Christmas gift from her Aunt and Uncle

   
   

What games or activities helped your children learn to read and count!

To read about encouraging fine motor skill development click here

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