Sticker charts never really clicked with my kids, but turning brushing into a family routine definitely did the trick. We started doing a "brush train"—lining up youngest to oldest, each one brushing in turn while the others cheered or made goofy faces. It sounds silly, but it worked wonders for us. After a while, they didn't even need the game anymore... it just became second nature. Funny how those little routines stick around even after the kids grow out of them.
"Sticker charts never really clicked with my kids..."
Interesting, sticker charts actually worked great for us—but only after we let our daughter pick out her own stickers. Before that, she wasn't into it at all. The brush train idea sounds fun, though I'm not sure my kid would have the patience to wait her turn yet... maybe we'll give it a shot when she's a bit older. Thanks for sharing!
Sticker charts can be hit or miss, honestly. For us, what really helped was making brushing teeth into a family routine—everyone brushing together at the same time. Kids often mimic adults, so seeing us brush regularly made it feel more natural for them. Also, picking out their own toothbrushes (favorite characters, colors, etc.) seemed to boost their enthusiasm quite a bit. Might be worth trying if stickers aren't cutting it...
You're definitely onto something with the family brushing routine. Kids naturally want to copy what they see adults doing, so modeling good habits is often more effective than rewards alone. And letting them pick their own toothbrushes is a great tip—I've seen firsthand how much excitement a favorite character or color can bring. Every kid's different though, so it's all about finding what clicks for yours... sounds like you're doing great already!
"Kids naturally want to copy what they see adults doing, so modeling good habits is often more effective than rewards alone."
Totally agree with this. My youngest resisted brushing until we started brushing together as a family—made it feel like a fun routine rather than a chore. Also, flavored toothpaste helped a ton... mint was a no-go, but strawberry worked wonders.
