Letting my son brush my teeth was a hit for a while—he thought it was hilarious, and it definitely made him more interested in brushing his own. I do think having some control helps; picking out a toothbrush with his favorite character made a difference too. The sticker chart worked for us, but only when we actually remembered to use it... Consistency is tough, but the little rituals seem to matter more than the toothpaste flavor in the long run.
Can’t say the sticker chart ever worked for us—my youngest just lost interest after a week or two, no matter how shiny the stickers. What actually clicked was making up silly toothbrushing songs together. Sometimes the mess and the giggles made it more memorable than any chart or cartoon toothbrush. Funny how the routines stick when you don’t force them too much…
Sticker charts fizzled out fast at our place too. My kid just wanted the stickers for everything BUT brushing. What worked? Letting her “brush” my teeth with her own brush first… sure, it’s weird, but she cracked up every time and then actually brushed hers. Cheaper than buying fancy gadgets, anyway.
That’s hilarious—my niece used to do the same thing. She’d brush my braces with this look of pure concentration, then giggle like crazy when I made a big deal about how “clean” my teeth felt. After that, she was way more into brushing her own. I tried the sticker thing too, but she just wanted to stick them on the dog’s nose. Honestly, letting them take charge (even if it means a little toothpaste in your ear) seems to work better than any chart or gadget.
Letting kids take charge does help, but I’ve actually seen some little ones get overwhelmed if there’s no structure at all. My nephew loved picking out his own toothbrush, but if we skipped the sticker chart, he’d just lose interest after a few days. I guess some kids really thrive on routine and little rewards, even if the stickers end up in weird places. Maybe it’s a balance—some freedom, but with a bit of guidance so the excitement sticks around.