losing your marbles

We have a new behaviour modification technique. Let's just say that Eden has been driving me to the limit when we have been stuck at home recently.

I got this idea from the Troughtons (where a whole stack of parenting expertise has been observed over the years and tucked away for future use). This is one that came to mind and I could not wait to it get through the ethics committee (Duncan) to implement as soon as possible before I went completely around the bend.

All it requires is a $6 pack of 100 marbles and an old jam jar. When Mum catches the particular small boy doing something helpful, being kind to his baby brother (instead of sitting on him or worse), using manners and doing what he is asked straight away - he gets to plunk a marble into the jar. It makes a lovely sound and looks gorgeous. Forget about the fact that when the jar is full you get to choose a reward - we are just absorbed in the process at the moment - thank God and I do mean thank God. How great is it to be focussing on the positive than being driven mad by the negative.

Here I was originally looking at it as a new avenue for punishment - I was all set to take marbles out for the incredibly annoying behaviours I have been putting up with - but how dumb was that? I was forgetting my basic psychology and teaching training. Positive reinforcement is the most powerful behaviour modifier! I think he will only get a marble taken out if he makes Caleb cry, not sure, we'll see how we go...