I thought this was very smart. That way there is always something "new" at your fingertips to make there day!:) I also want to have a place where I stash last min children's gifts for when they need that last min birthday present for the party they forgot to tell me about! I figured the whole bribes with real candy and treats is pointless because then they will just expect it and learn where the hiding place is (right crys haha). So ya, I like this little "treat" box. Good for rewarding good behavior or eventually good grades. Not to mention prob. very handy for holidays like Easter. Anyhow, enough of my blabbing! Here's the goods!
All of the following is quoted from the
Prudent Baby Blog
Or treat basket, or treat drawer. Where you keep the treats matters not. The treat box is a tool that's had great success in our home. Scarlet doesn't know it exists (very important to maintain secrecy surrounding the treat box), but her father and I do, and we use it on those occasions when we need to make our child smile.
It contains little, inexpensive thingies you know your toddler will love. I always grab a few tidbits from the lovely care packages sent by Grandma and Auntee and reserve them in the treat box, along with random stuff found in the $1 section at Target, stickers, necklaces, bracelets, hairbands, pinwheels, kazoos, wind-up toys, crayons or pencils, coloring books or cards, or anything with owls or butterflies because my daughter loves them.
The Treat Box
We dip into The Treat Box at times like these:
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The babysitter has arrived. My husband slips the sitter a treat to hand to Scarlet as she walks in. Child loves babysitter, does not cry when parents leave.
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She displayed especially wonderful behavior. It isn't a bribe because you don't do it every time so your child doesn't come to expect it. Presented as "Scarlet, tonight at dinner you stayed in your seat, used your napkin, and put your plate in the dishwasher when we were done. That was so helpful for mommy. Would you like to play with some new stickers now?" a small treat goes a long way.
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After an owwie. "Poor baby, that must have hurt. Mommy will kiss it. You're so upset. Would you like to play pinwheel now? Look, blow on it, how pretty! Can you blow?" Distraction complete.
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The dog ate her cookie and she's devastated. Often this is because she gave the dog her cookie, so we are working on that by not replacing said cookie with a new cookie. Out comes a treat, out goes dog into yard.
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When your attention must be elsewhere. "Mommy knows you are frustrated, you want to play right now! Mommy simply must make this call (or sautee the onions, or whatever). Here's a wind-up turtle, can you make it go?" Operation Entertain Baby = Success.
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When you're driving and little one wants to hold your hand or scream. I keep a few treats in the glovebox for this purpose.
