Using multiple goals for incentive chart (by: Grandma Jeddah)

Using multiple goals for incentive chart

I’d like to use the star chart incentive system with my 7-year-old daughter who shows signs of hyperactivity.  If there are a couple of areas to work on, is it better to work on one issue at a time or tackle them all at once?

It depends on the particular child you are dealing with and what behavior goals you are trying to work on.  Consider your 7-year-old daughter, for instance.  Determine whether or not she is likely to be successful if she has more than one goal to work on. You mentioned that she is fairly close to being hyperactive. Some children who are hyperactive can have difficulty staying focused. Having several behavior goals to focus on at one time might be a bit much for such children. This is particularly the case if the goals are challenges that take a lot of mental and emotional effort to overcome. For instance, if you want her to work on talking respectfully, following instructions promptly, and controlling her angry feelings around her younger siblings, these goals in unison might be overwhelming for her.  Initially, they would probably be best worked on individually. After you begin seeing success with one goal, then add another.

However, goals that don’t demand much of your child emotionally might be OK to work on simultaneously, for example, washing her hands before eating, saying Bismillah before eating, or finishing her homework as soon as she gets home from school. So, in essence, what I’m saying is that it depends on the child and the goals to be achieved.

This is an excerpt from Grandma Jeddah's e-book 67 Discipline Pearls for Your Most Challenging Discipline Problems. Order your copy today at www.grandmajeddah.com 

Grandma Jeddah is the mother of 11 children and 16 grandchildren. She has taught hundreds of students for over 30 years at an Islamic school in Los Angeles, California. She has written dozens of articles for Muslim magazines, newspapers and blogs.  She is the author of, Discipline without Disrespecting: Discover the Hidden Secrets of How to Effectively Discipline Your Muslim Child--And Keep Your Peace of Mind while at It.  Order her e-books at:  http://www.grandmajeddah.com/