"Reward charts seem helpful too... do you find they lose their effectiveness over time, or does switching up the rewards help keep things going?"
Yeah, reward charts can definitely lose their charm after a while. Kids are smart—they catch on quick and get bored easily. Switching up the rewards helps for sure, but sometimes I found that changing the type of chart or even ditching it altogether for a bit worked better. Like, we went from stickers to a marble jar system, and then took a break completely. When we brought it back later, it felt fresh again.
Also, about toothpaste flavors—my nephew was the same way with minty stuff. We ended up trying some fruity flavors (he loved strawberry) and even bubblegum ones. But honestly, I think letting him pick out his own toothpaste at the store made the biggest difference. It gave him a sense of control and excitement about brushing.
Have you tried letting your niece choose her own toothbrush too? Sometimes just having something new or special makes them more interested in using it.
We've had similar issues with reward charts too. They start off great, but after a while, my kids just lose interest or start negotiating for bigger and better rewards. 😅 I agree that switching things up helps, but honestly, sometimes it feels like we're just delaying the inevitable boredom. We ended up ditching charts altogether for a while and instead tried making toothbrushing part of a fun routine—like brushing along to their favorite song or using one of those apps that turns brushing into a game. It worked surprisingly well, at least for a bit.
Also, totally agree about letting kids pick their toothpaste flavor. My daughter hated minty stuff too until she chose her own watermelon-flavored toothpaste. Now she actually looks forward to brushing (most days anyway...). But toothbrushes can be tricky—she picked one with flashing lights once, and it was exciting for about three days before she got bored again. 🙄
One thing we haven't tried yet is those toothbrushes that connect to apps and give rewards or badges for consistent brushing. Has anyone here tried something like that? Curious if it's worth the investment or just another gimmick that'll end up forgotten in a drawer somewhere...
"One thing we haven't tried yet is those toothbrushes that connect to apps and give rewards or badges for consistent brushing."
We've actually tried one of those app-connected toothbrushes, and honestly, it was a mixed bag. My son loved unlocking badges at first, but after about two weeks, the novelty wore off, and it felt like just another chore. What really helped us long-term was making brushing part of storytime—like telling silly stories or jokes while brushing. Might sound cheesy, but it's working better than tech gimmicks ever did...
We went through something similar with our grandkids. Tried the app-connected brushes, and yeah, I agree with you—initial excitement faded pretty quickly. I think part of the issue is that once kids realize it's just another chore dressed up in tech, they lose interest fast.
"What really helped us long-term was making brushing part of storytime—like telling silly stories or jokes while brushing."
I like your approach a lot. We did something similar, but instead of stories, we turned brushing into a little science experiment. We'd use those plaque-disclosing tablets once in a while (you know, the ones that turn teeth pink or purple?) and the kids got super into seeing how well they could brush away all the color. It became a fun challenge rather than a chore. Plus, it gave them an actual visual sense of accomplishment, which seemed to stick better than digital badges.
Tech can be cool, but sometimes old-school tricks still win out...
The plaque tablets are a clever idea—visual feedback can really help kids "get" why brushing matters. I do worry sometimes about making things too game-like, but if it keeps them brushing regularly, that's a definite win...
