praising children

Mid-year last year I felt God tug on my heart strings and tell me that I wasn’t praising my children/husband enough. I have critiquing down, but praise I need help with. So, I listened to some sermons and prayed about my method because I wanted to be mindful of it, not overtaxed by it. So God and I developed the “rice method”. This is how it works. For a good work, proper manners or godly virtues displayed, I would acknowledge it in front of whomever is present and then i’d tell the child to put a certain number of rice in a small cup.(fancy shot glass size) Our family would predetermine what the reward would be when the cup is level full. First cup full was pizza in a pizza parlor and a movie in a theater, which was a huge treat, even if they picked the Lego movie! Just celebrated the second cup full, pizza from the convenient store and the Shaggy Dog at my parents on their dish.

Now the trick is, no rice if they draw attention to their own good behavior/godly displayed virtues. I must on my own notice and then praise. Also, poor behavior as in disobedience /disrespect the child/ren must take rice out. All children work together to fill the cup..

We are starting formal school sept. 8th and my 8th grade boy will get 5 rice every am if he wakes and completes his math before others stir. He’s an early riser anyway, it’s the quiet he needs to complete his math, that dreaded subject. If I need to motivate it’s amazing what the rice can do.

The rice and a bag are displayed in a central location, so when my sister, parents or friends stop by they can see the children’s progress!

Good luck trying this !

Martha

PS my teacher name this year is Mrs. Fabulous, incase you hear my name floating around!!!