"Honestly though, I think rewards can be tricky—kids might start flossing just to get the prize and then totally lose interest once it's gone."
I see your point about rewards, but sometimes a little incentive can spark a habit that sticks around. When my grandkids were younger, we used a sticker chart for flossing. Sure, they started out chasing stickers, but after a while, they genuinely liked how clean their teeth felt. Maybe it's about finding the right balance between rewards and routine...every kid's different, after all.
I agree, rewards can definitely help kickstart a habit, especially if they're used thoughtfully. The tricky part is transitioning from external incentives to internal motivation. One thing I've found helpful is gradually phasing out the rewards—like starting with stickers or small prizes, then slowly shifting to verbal praise or just acknowledging their effort. Eventually, kids start associating flossing with feeling good about themselves rather than just getting something in return. It's not foolproof, but it worked pretty well for us.
"The tricky part is transitioning from external incentives to internal motivation."
You've really hit the nail on the head here. I've seen similar results with my grandkids—initially, small rewards helped them get into the habit, but eventually it became second nature. I do think your approach of gradually shifting from tangible rewards to verbal praise is spot-on. Habits built on feeling good about personal care tend to stick around longer... at least that's been my experience. Keep up the thoughtful approach; sounds like you're doing great.
Interesting points here. I've been trying something similar with my daughter, but honestly, I'm still skeptical about how long verbal praise alone can sustain the habit. Maybe it's just her personality...or maybe flossing is just universally unpopular with kids?
You're definitely not alone in this struggle. My grandkids were exactly the same way—verbal praise worked for a bit, but eventually lost its charm. Honestly, I think flossing is just one of those universally unpopular things for kids (and adults too, let's be real...). One thing that helped us was making it into a bit of a game or challenge—like seeing who could floss the fastest or most carefully. It didn't always work perfectly, but it did make things less of a chore.
Also, personality does play a big role. My granddaughter took to flossing pretty quickly once she realized it made her feel "grown-up," while my grandson needed more tangible rewards like stickers or small treats. Every kid's different, so don't feel discouraged if verbal praise alone isn't cutting it.
Hang in there—you're doing great just by trying different approaches and caring enough to ask around. It'll click eventually...or at least become less of a battle!
