![\"Winking](\"http:\/\/www.geijer.us\/loveandgravy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/09\/wlEmoticon-winkingsmile1.png\")
) I think the problem with these approaches, for her, was that the benefit was too abstract. It\u2019s great that you\u2019re going to get something cool LATER, but what about NOW? <\/p>\nI tried a lot of different ways to motivate my five-year-old into practicing her violin, but nothing really struck with her. We started with stickers on a chart for every day of practice, to be redeemed for special rewards, like a small gift or going out for ice cream with Daddy. She liked that in theory but it just didn\u2019t last. Then I tried a cute glass jar and pennies. I told her she could have five pennies to put in her jar every time she practiced. She thought that was a great idea, except it really only happened one time and she showed no interest in the future. (Yes, I\u2019m cheap, but she doesn\u2019t understand money and I shouldn\u2019t have to pay her to practice anyway. ) I think the problem with these approaches, for her, was that the benefit was too abstract. It\u2019s great that you\u2019re going to get something cool LATER, but what about NOW? <\/p>\n
Finally, I came up with this.<\/p>\n
The perfect reward for good behavior! They\u2019re little round cups with tissue paper on top. To open them, you just press your fingers through the top and tear the paper. Inside, you can put anything small. These have two Hershey\u2019s kisses, a mini Reese\u2019s cup or small coins, but you could use anything, as long as it fits. Evelyn loves chocolate, but this isn\u2019t enough that it makes her hyper, so we\u2019re both happy. It\u2019s an immediate response to her behavior, so she doesn\u2019t have to wait for a reward, and there\u2019s something immensely satisfying about popping your fingers through that tissue paper top to pull out the candy inside. It\u2019s like Christmas morning! <\/p>\n I like a good excuse to break out the mod podge as well as the next person, but sometimes, instant gratification is what I\u2019m going for. I started with a plain old recycled plastic container, wrapped a folded piece of tissue paper around it and secured it with a yellow ribbon. The ribbon wasn\u2019t long enough to tie in a pretty bow, so I used a hair flower (homemade) with an alligator clip on the back to add a little bling to the front. It took less than five minutes and turned out pretty cute. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"P1040034\"](\"http:\/\/www.geijer.us\/loveandgravy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/09\/P1040034.jpg\" "\\"P1040034\\"")
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