I get what you’re saying about apps keeping things fresh, but I actually found the unpredictability a bit overwhelming for my kid. We tried a brushing app with all the bells and whistles—songs, points, whatever—and it just made him more distracted. Step one, he’d get excited. Step two, he’d start tapping around instead of brushing. Step three, he’d lose interest after a week. With a chart, at least it’s straightforward: brush, sticker, done. I do worry about the reward system angle too, but sometimes the simplest routine is less stressful for both of us. Maybe it just depends on the kid?
You nailed it—sometimes the “fun” features in apps just end up being one more thing to keep track of. My kid was the same way. The first time we tried a brushing app, he spent more time picking out avatars and accidentally closing the app than actually brushing. I felt like I needed a user manual just to get his teeth clean.
Honestly, the old-school sticker chart is way cheaper and less likely to end up with toothpaste on my phone. Plus, I can buy a whole pack of stickers for what some of these apps want for a “premium” subscription… yeah, right.
I do worry a bit about the reward system too—like, am I setting him up to expect a parade every time he does something basic? But at least with the chart, it’s clear: brush, sticker, move on. Less drama, less tech support required. Maybe there’s no magic answer, but I’ll take “simple and cheap” over “high-tech chaos” any day.
- Completely agree, the sticker chart is way less hassle.
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Been there. Half the time, my phone ended up smeared with toothpaste, and my kid was just frustrated.“I felt like I needed a user manual just to get his teeth clean.”
- I do wonder, though—does anyone find their kids actually stick with the chart for more than a week or two? Ours starts strong, then fizzles out.
- Digital rewards seem to lose their shine fast, but at least stickers are tangible.
- Curious if anyone’s found a way to keep either system interesting long-term, or do most kids just get bored no matter what?
Honestly, my kiddo lost interest in both after about ten days. The sticker chart turned into “meh, whatever,” and the app just became background noise. What actually helped? Rotating toothbrushes—seriously, a new brush with a cartoon character seemed more exciting than any chart or app. Go figure...
