We have an amazing new bribe motivational tool for Miss M…
You’re excited now aren’t you?
I can tell.
You’ve gone a bit pale and shaky.
You see, if Miss M is good she gets one of these…
And she puts it in here…
And when it’s full she gets this…
The doll in the car, not the pine shelving.
So if she’s a little sod, I just have to say,
Me: “You need to be good M, or it will take such a long time to get your prezzie.”
And when she’s a little star, I can say,
Me”Hooray M. You’re being so good. Let’s go and get a marble for your jar.”
It’s worked, kind of, for a week and the jar is nearly full.
To be honest E and I can’t wait for her to get that car. I think I might get a smaller jar for future attempts, but it will also be a smaller toy. This one cost a fiver, (that’s about $10 I think.) She picked it herself and I can’t wait to see her little face when she opens it.
Keep your fingers crossed for us.
Oh, quick update…
I wrote this post yesterday and today she got the toy.
Hooraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay 
She was sooooo pleased and told Grandma all about it with hardly any prompting, honest…
Grandma: “Oh M. Where did you get that lovely car from?”
Miss M: “From shopping.”
Me: “What did you have to do to get the car M?”
Miss M: “Go to shopping.”
Me: “Annnnd…
Miss M: “Emmmmmm.”
Me: “What did we do with the marbles?”
M: “Put dem in a jar.”
Me: “Why did we do that?”
M: “To get a prezzie?”
Hmmm, well that seems to have worked??
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October 27th, 2007 at 12:31 pm
I’m so stealing this idea. And thanks for all the comment lovin’ today. You is fab.
October 27th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
I love bribery parenting. I am partial to it. We’ve used it with so many stages of K’s upbringing. I love the marble jar it is a nice twist. We used sticker charts… when the chart was full she earned something.
Hooray for the doll and car!
October 27th, 2007 at 1:44 pm
Found you via Belle’s blog, at Diary of a Housewife. Am taking that idea, not for son, but for self. For shoes, I think.
October 27th, 2007 at 1:55 pm
Bribery – thy name is parenthood.
Thank heavens…
October 27th, 2007 at 2:10 pm
tee hee…so fun. Glad it worked….well sort of worked. She’ll get it…I think.
October 27th, 2007 at 2:44 pm
I have a box of Thomas train tracks and two engines sitting on top of my entertainment center right now. They’ve been their for about two months!
Punkin wants them SO bad, but just can’t seem to stay clean and dry for a week. I guess they’ll end up being Christmas gifts. But the bribes worked miracles for the main part of potty training!
I wish hubby would bribe me….
October 27th, 2007 at 4:57 pm
Ahaa M!
A girl after my own heart…always keep your eye on the prize darl
October 27th, 2007 at 5:04 pm
I once promised a trip to Toys R Us and anything they wanted for $5 if mine only cried a little and didn’t throw a tantrum when they had to get shots at the Dr. It took one of them so long to decide that my patience wore thin and I ended up thinking it might have been better to endure a public tantrum at age 5 instead. Not really; I guess there were just too many choices. I think rewards are a good way to go. I treat myself to ice cream often and it has nothing to do with accomplishments!
October 27th, 2007 at 8:05 pm
This is one of the best things about blogging – stealing other brilliant parenting ideas. I’ll be storing this one away!
October 28th, 2007 at 2:38 am
I’d just want to keep the marbles…I just love ‘em ;-D
October 28th, 2007 at 4:46 am
Kim, you is fab. Keep on going sweetie. You’ll get there.
Cami we tried the stickers but I think she’s a bit young. She seems to really like the physical aspect of choosing a marble and putting it into the jar. She seemed to ‘get’ full and empty so far.
RC, aaaaAAAAAmmeeeeeeeen.
Corey I think she will too. You can also go for the taking them out if she does something naughty, but I don’t like that, so we’re keeping it positive. I’m all for the positive.
Blue Momma, I wish Mr B would bribe me too. A new coat would be nice, or some new boots… Or chocolate, just chocolate would be fine. I am such a cheap bribe.
Hee hee, she kept her eye on the prize MGL. Every time we put marbles in…’Can my have dat prezzie now?’
Mrs Weasley you are fabulous. Have some more ice cream sweetie. You definitely deserve it.
Thalia’s child, I got this idea from one of my bezzie mates, Karen, but I’m always open for more as usually things work for a bit then they kind of get bored of them.
New ideas are always welcome.
21st CM the marbles are fab. They’re so pretty aren’t they? It’s been lovely looking at them with her and choosing which ones we like best. Tesco has some really nice ones at the moment for 49p a bag, and then we have some from when we were little that my mum saved.
October 28th, 2007 at 8:05 am
I’m glad that one worked for you. We merely ended up with marbles all over.
Sticker charts worked here for potty training but not since.
Sigh…
October 28th, 2007 at 1:45 pm
Tina, sorry I missed you earlier. You were in moderation.
What a fabulous idea, a marble jar for shoes. How will you earn them though?? I say stick with the colouring on the wall issue. Everytime you don’t colour on the wall, give yourself a marble. Yay.
October 28th, 2007 at 1:53 pm
Belle, I’m mean. The marbles are out of reach and when it’s time to put one in we do it together and I whip the lid on quick.
October 28th, 2007 at 5:08 pm
Brilliant! Really glad you didn’t lose your marbles…
(I know – far too predictable!):)
October 29th, 2007 at 8:00 am
Bribery – works every time!
October 29th, 2007 at 10:48 am
Englishmum, it was so predictable that it was unpredictable my dear. You are a genius.
Akela, yay for bribery.
October 29th, 2007 at 12:35 pm
What a brilliant idea. Love how it turned out. How many times do I have to learn the hard way you can’t reason with a toddler… but it doesn’t stop me from trying! You have a fabulous blog here… having great fun reading old posts. Hope to see you next Monday!