""They love arbitrary points. Like, 'twelve points if you can get your shoes on before me!' And my oldest (seven) is very into video games, so I have started using arbitrary 'achievements'.""
""These include 'the clean plate challenge' where he gets an achievement for finishing everything on his plate. 'New food challenge' if he will TRY a new food. And my personal fave: 'no questions asked' where he gets an achievement for eating his breakfast, getting dressed, and brushing his teeth without being asked. I still have to prompt him, like, 'hey are you going to earn the no questions asked cheevo today?' And then he does it.""
""What is an achievement, you ask? Its nothing! Its air, sound, emotion, intangible... But somehow valuable enough to get the kids to do some things you need them to do.""
""'Racing' my niece to see which one of us could get our toothbrush ready first was basically the only way I could get her excited to brush her teeth lol.""
Children respond to arbitrary points and achievements that mirror video game rewards. Small, intangible incentives can be assigned for specific behaviors such as finishing a plate, trying a new food, or completing morning routines without reminders. Prompting a child to attempt a labeled achievement often leads to compliance. Framing tasks as challenges or races increases engagement and excitement around hygiene and routine tasks. These approaches require no material prizes yet provide emotional and game-like value that reliably motivates cooperation and habit formation.
Read at BuzzFeed
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