Sticker charts actually worked for my oldest, but my younger one just shrugged them off—she wanted the reward immediately, not after a week of stickers. I’m starting to wonder if it’s more about their temperament than the actual system. Has anyone else noticed that certain rewards just click with one kid and not the other?
Has anyone else noticed that certain rewards just click with one kid and not the other?
Definitely seeing this at my house. My daughter loves picking out her own toothbrushes and toothpaste flavors, but my son? He doesn’t care about that at all—he just wants me to sit with him and tell a silly story while he brushes. Is it normal for kids to need totally different motivation, or am I missing some trick that works for everyone? I keep worrying I’m doing something wrong if one thing doesn’t work for both.
Is it normal for kids to need totally different motivation, or am I missing some trick that works for everyone?
I honestly think it’s completely normal. My two are the same—my oldest is all about rewards, but my youngest just wants me to be goofy and brush alongside him. I used to stress that I was doing something wrong too, but I guess what matters is just finding what makes it work for each kid. There’s no magic trick that fits everyone... and that’s okay.
I’m not sure I buy that there’s no universal trick at all. Back when my kids were little, they all responded (eventually) to routine—same time, same place, every night. Sure, the details varied, but the habit itself seemed to stick after a while. Maybe it’s less about finding the perfect motivation and more about just being stubbornly consistent? Worked for us... though I’ll admit, it took patience.
Yeah, I totally get what you mean about routine being the magic sauce. My oldest was a nightmare with brushing—like, full-on meltdown mode every night for weeks. But sticking to the same time and just not budging (even when I wanted to give up) did eventually pay off. It’s wild how kids will push back hard at first but then suddenly it’s just... normal? I think you’re right, it’s not about some secret trick, it’s more about outlasting their stubbornness with your own.
Patience is definitely key though. Some nights felt like a battle of wills, but now it’s just part of the bedtime drill. And hey, if we can survive toddler toothbrushing wars, we can handle anything, right?