That’s a classic workaround—kids are way too clever with tech sometimes. I’ve read that tangible rewards activate the dopaminergic pathways more directly than abstract digital points, especially for younger kids. Have you noticed if the novelty of physical rewards wears off, or do they keep working over time?
Physical rewards worked for a while with my kids, but I noticed they started losing interest after a couple months. I guess the excitement fades once they know what to expect. We tried switching up the rewards—like stickers one week, then letting them pick a bedtime story the next. That helped a bit, but honestly, it’s tough to keep things fresh without spending a lot. Has anyone tried non-material incentives, like extra playtime or a small privilege? Curious if those hold up any better over time.
Curious if those hold up any better over time.
I get where you’re coming from—switching up the rewards can help for a bit, but I’ve found privileges like extra playtime or picking a movie don’t always stick either. Sometimes the novelty just wears off, no matter what. What actually worked for us was making brushing a family thing for a while. Less about rewards, more about routine and doing it together. It wasn’t perfect, but it took some of the pressure off finding new incentives all the time.
It wasn’t perfect, but it took some of the pressure off finding new incentives all the time.
Funny, we tried sticker charts and little prizes for a while, but after a couple weeks my son just stopped caring. What actually helped was letting him “teach” us how to brush—he got a kick out of being the expert. Not a magic fix, but it made things less of a battle. Sometimes just changing up the routine is enough.
Teaching turns the tables, huh? That’s actually pretty clever. I tried something similar with my daughter when she got her braces—she suddenly became the “brushing police” for everyone, which was hilarious until she started timing me and my partner like it was a competition. Honestly, I thought the novelty would wear off, but she still checks if I’m using my little orthodontic brush thingy right.
Sticker charts never worked for us, either. She just lost interest after a week... and I ended up with a bunch of random stickers on my fridge. I feel like the key is mixing it up. Sometimes we’ll play a song and have a mini dance party while brushing. Anything to keep it from feeling like a chore, you know?
Have you tried letting your kid pick their own toothbrush or toothpaste? Mine went wild for the blue sparkly one. Not sure if that’s normal, but hey, as long as she’s brushing...