Marks for Behavior Change

Some parents and young children find it helpful to give marks to praise and reinforce desired behaviors.

• Make a list of the behaviors you want to promote and share it with your child.
• Place a mark on the child's hand each time your child does one of these behaviors. At the same time, thank or tell the child what you like about that behavior.
• Give marks for a small period of time each day when you can watch your child closely. This can be just 15 minutes or all day. Aim for 6-10 marks per hour.
• At the end of the period add up the marks and give a small reward. For instance, rewards could be a special sticker, a gummy bear or reading an extra book.
• Give extra marks for really good behavior such as when the child is helpful without being asked. Do this even if the behavior is not on the list.
• If your child asks for a mark for something good he or she did, give one! This will make your child feel proud and want to cooperate more in the future.
• Siblings may want to join in by getting marks for themselves. This method also works well in a class or child care group.
• Continue giving marks for several weeks. You will soon see that praise is enough to keep up their good behavior. And if your child's behavior slips, you can start giving marks again anytime.