Here’a an idea to reward your preschooler instead of handing out material things.

Make a bunch of Reward Cards.  Take some index cards, select some activities that both you and your child can do together, and write an activity on each index card.  The activity has to be something your child loves doing with you.  Here are a few ideas:

• Going out for ice cream
• Going for a walk together, or to the playground
• Painting the fence together
• Washing the car together
• Cooking dinner together

Make as many cards as you like.  To store them,  cut out the pocket part of an old shirt, glue it to a poster board, and hang it somewhere prominent. Keep your Reward Cards in here.

Every time your preschooler completes a small chore, or does anything worthy of praise, let her have a card that she can use to spend more quality time with you.

Be specific in your writing on the card.  For instance - This Reward Card is valid for one afternoon of finger painting together.

This is a great way to reward kids (children are more likely to do things if you can dangle a reward in front of them, and if you’re hesitant about using money or gifts or anything material, as I know many of you are, this is a great reward).

Before long, your preschooler will want nothing much to do with you, and will have plenty of other things she’d rather have than time with you, so make good use of these days!

Enjoy!