• Home
  • Blog
  • Project Gallery
  • About Me
    • About Old Salt Farm
    • Contact Info
  • Terms of Service & Privacy Policy
  • My Book
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

Old Salt Farm

Farmhouse + DIY

  • DIY
    • DIY Home Decor
    • Paint & Stain Projects
    • Re-purposed Projects
    • Woodworking
    • Outdoor Projects
  • For the Home
    • Old Salt Farm
    • Farmhouse Style
    • Home Decor & Styling
    • Cleaning
    • Organization
    • Entertaining
    • Crafts
      • Printables
      • Fonts
      • Silhouette
      • All Crafts
      • Kids’ Crafts
  • Holidays
    • 4th of July
    • Back to School
    • Christmas
    • Cinco de Mayo
    • Easter
    • Fall
    • Halloween
    • New Year’s Eve
    • Spring
    • St. Patrick’s Day
    • Summer
    • Thanksgiving
    • Valentine’s Day
    • Winter
  • Family Life
    • Kids’ Ideas
  • Gift Ideas
    • Birthdays
    • Father’s Day
    • Mother’s Day
    • Teachers
    • Thank you
    • Thinking of You
    • Weddings
    • Babies
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Breads
    • Breakfast
    • Crockpot
    • Cookies & Bars
    • Desserts
    • Main Dishes
    • Soups
    • Snacks
    • Drinks
    • Holidays
    • Game Day
  • The Farmhouse Finder
  • Shop

Apr 14, 2014

Sunday Scoops: Encouraging, Motivating & Rewarding a Child’s Good Behavior

We go to church for three hours each Sunday, and the first hour is spent together as families.  When you’re little (and even when you’re big) it’s hard to still still for that long, and being quiet at the same time.  I bring plenty for them to do, but the wiggles can set in, and helping them sit still can be a challenge. With six kids sitting next to each other, they also *might* be known to take their wiggles out on the person next to them.  To help motivate, encourage, and reward their good behavior, we use SUNDAY SCOOPS! I’ve learned that kids really respond to visual cues, and this does that–it shows them what they’ve earned, what they’ve lost, and they can more easily connect it to the consequence, good or bad. We love it…it’s worked wonders for us!

Sunday Scoops | oldsaltfarm.com

It’s very simple, really. Each child starts with three scoops of ice cream. They will lose a scoop for things like: not listening, being too loud, squabbling with a sibling, and other items I won’t mention here. ☺  I don’t have to give a verbal warning, all I need to do is take away a scoop. They’re able to earn back scoops, by correcting their behavior, reaching out to help another sibling, etc.  If they have lost all their scoops by the end of the meeting, they will have also lost having a Sunday treat. This is a big deal at our house. We have a tradition of making a treat together each Sunday, and it’s much anticipated by all.

Sunday Scoops | oldsaltfarm.com

I first learned of this idea years ago from my friend Linsey, and in their family they literally earned scoops of ice cream–as many as they had left.  Not everyone loves ice cream in our house, so I changed it to fit our family.  There are many varying ways you could do this…each family will have something that will work best for them.

I’ve also started  using it for times other than church–the doctor’s office is another time that sitting still and waiting can be difficult, especially when I’m trying to communicate with a doctor or nurse.  The reward/consequence will be different–maybe it’s computer or screen time, or another privilege (depending on the child), but once again, the scoops are a visual of where they’re at, and what it represents.  This also works at home–put up the ice cream scoops on the fridge or magnet board, and tell them ahead of time what they’re working for.  I don’t always give extra rewards for good behavior–it’s something we teach and expect. However, there are some circumstances that I recognize are more difficult (such as church, the doctor, other  times they have to wait) so I have no problem helping things along.  If I use it at home, however, their behavior determines whether or not they have earned the privileges they love–computer, tv, etc.  The nice thing about this chart, is that you can adapt it to your family, and to whatever your needs are.

Sunday Scoops | oldsaltfarm.com

Here’s how to put together your own Sunday Scoops!

ITEMS YOU NEED:

-file folder
-stick-on velcro tabs, and strips
-scrapbook paper
-contact paper OR lamination supplies
-distress ink
-cardstock
-ribbon
-stapler
-ice cream template

DIRECTIONS:

1. Print out your ice cream template (or draw your own), and cut it out. (You can reduce the size before printing if you need to.)

2. Trace the template onto your scrapbook paper of choice–depending on the flavors of ice cream you want! I did 3 scoops per child, and did chocolate, strawberry, vanilla, and mint chocolate chip.  :) I made this before the days of Silhouette, but if you have one, or another vinyl cutter, you could use that instead.

3. Cut out the scoops, then distress all the edges if desired.

4. Cover scoops in contact paper, and then cut out, leaving an edge around the scoop. If you have a laminator, you can use that too! When I made these years ago, I didn’t have one, so I used contact paper, and it worked great. Now I do have a laminator, and I would have used that.  Either way works great!

5. Decide where you want your scoops inside the file folder. Using the Velcro tabs, apply the scoops to the folder.
Apply one long strip of Velcro (just the fuzzy side) to the inside of the folder, next to the scoops. This is a place to put the scoops if they are taken away.

6. Print out names and folder title (Sunday Scoops) on cardstock. Mat with coordinating cardstock, and distress all edges. Mat the title again with scrapbook paper. Apply names and title to folder using double stick tape.

7. Distress edges of folder and staple ribbon to top of file folder.

Sunday Scoops | oldsaltfarm.com

It really has made a difference for our family–I hope it does for yours, too!

Share and save for later!

  • Share
  • Email

Filed Under: All Crafts, Crafts, Family Life, Kids' Ideas | 6 Comments

« Previous post
Next post »

Lovely comments

  1. Gina M says

    Apr 14, 2014 at 10:32 am

    Thank you so much for this idea! I have been struggling greatly with my three-year-old son, and we just made one of these together because of your post. Can’t wait to try it out. :)

    Reply
    • Simply Kierste says

      Apr 14, 2014 at 10:36 am

      Oh, I hear you! Hopefully this helps you as much as it has me. Let me know!! xo

      Reply
  2. Dari says

    Apr 14, 2014 at 10:45 pm

    How fun. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • Simply Kierste says

      Apr 15, 2014 at 9:25 am

      You are so welcome!!! xo

      Reply
  3. Caroline says

    Apr 28, 2014 at 11:04 pm

    We totally do this at our house, but with the ice cream. Behavior is SOO much better because of it! My kids would move mountains for sugar. :)

    Reply
    • Simply Kierste says

      Apr 30, 2014 at 8:10 am

      Yep–sugar is the biggest motivator at our house too!!! :) So glad it works for your family! xo

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

search

COPYRIGHT POLICY

The images, tutorials, and content on oldsaltfarm.com are protected by copyright laws. DO NOT distribute or copy the content without written permission. You may not use any images without permission. DO NOT edit or remove watermarks from any image. Pictures are not to be changed or altered in any way, shape or form without my consent. Please do not copy text or reprint recipes without my permission. All ideas and printables are for your personal use only. By downloading any files or printables, you accept that they are FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY. My patterns, ideas and tutorials are NOT intended for resale or re-distribution.

Interested in sharing one of my photos or projects? Fill out my Old Salt Farm Feature Agreement.

Please contact me with any questions. oldsaltfarm@gmail.com

© Old Salt Farm (Kierste Wade)

CREATE AT YOUR OWN RISK

Any and all content on this website is created for inspiration purposes only. Creating with my suggested methods, products, instructions, tutorials, and tools is at your own risk. Please ensure you are following proper guidelines with anything used, and seek professional advice if you don’t know how to do something.

Old Salt Farm is for entertainment purposes only. All tutorials and demonstrations are not intended to be professional advice, nor substitute as such, and I make no guarantees as to the procedures and information here.

Read my full disclosure here.

AMAZON DISCLOSURE

Kierste Wade (Old Salt Farm) is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Amazon offers a small commission on products sold through their affiliate links. When you make a purchase after clicking on one of those links, I earn a small commission that helps support this blog, at no extra cost to you. Read my full disclosure here.
Copyright © 2021 Old Salt Farm, Custom site by Moonsteam Design.

Cookies

This website requires the use cookies. By using this site, you are agreeing to our Privacy Policy.