Motivating and Encouraging Children from 7 Years

In 2004, upon finalizing my original range of younger children's reward charts, I wanted to turn my focus to a child of seven years and beyond. I wanted to hear the nags and groans of everyday life from the parents and caregivers of these ever-growing mini adults. I asked them what they struggled with and what they were constantly asking their child to do. The responses were very similar ‘I can’t get my child away from the television’, ‘I am always having to tell them to put down their computer game’, or ‘I am constantly having to nag them to do their chores’ to name but a few. Also, I wanted to hear from the children’s perspective, this too had a similar theme, ‘Mum’s always telling me to put my shoes away’, ‘I’m always being told to tidy my room’, ‘Dad’s nags me to do my homework’.

Children from the age of seven have reached an important stage of their life. They have conquered the developments of the first six years. It is a time when they are settling down and life is at a steadier pace of growing and learning. They are settled into school with their chosen friends, and reading and writing becomes a major interest. Children of this age are also interested in everyday life tasks and they have a strong desire to do things right, independently and perform well. However, they now have a longer attention span for things they enjoy, but they are also at an age where decision making can be a tough call. This is where conflicts can often arise.

So the theory behind My Credit Chart is to give children from seven years of age direction. The chart creates a central point in the home for children to refer to with minimal adult involvement. It provides a list of everyday activities such as getting dressed, eating healthily, helping around the home and completing homework - quite achievable activities for a child of this age but so often require adult encouragement to see them through. Completion of the activities are acknowledged through a checkmark system, a more grown-up way to record achievements than that of the 'sticker' reward system.

By providing a physical, visual tool children have the responsibility of monitoring themselves and being in charge of their time.  In addition, setting simple rewards encourages them to see through their routine and complete the activities.

Children feel motivated to use My Credit Chart.  Minimal adult interaction is required to sensibly set rewards, oversee the routine and give praise for their child's endeavours.

My Credit Chart provides families with a more settled home life bringing great comfort from structure and routine - a great support for families of children living with Autism, ADHD and Dyslexia.

By Victoria Ballard


My Credit Chart is available for $12.99 from www.VictoriaChartCompany.com

Back to School!!

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

It’s been a fantastic Summer - family days out, picnics, camps, vacations, long sunny days, balmy summer evenings ... easy times!

Then all of a sudden it’s ... BACK TO SCHOOL!! 

However routines have gone out the window! Children need to get up and out of the door on time, they need early nights, parents are suddenly faced with the challenge of homework, planning meals and juggling school activities. On top of this, some children will be facing a change of school. All of these things, when added to the stress of modern family life, can lead to a lot of disruption.

One solution is to use a reward chart with your child.

The Victoria Chart Company’s “Encourage & Praise” range of reward charts help children and their families to get on track, bringing structure and routine to home life. Hung in an easy to view place, they provide a supportive tool for the whole family to work from. Children are excited to work to goals, to see their progress and feel good about their achievements. Their charts also help parents to approach discipline from a positive angle, something that can often be missed during pressured times.

The Company’s Founder, Victoria Ballard, an expert in the field of positive development in children, has been creating rewards charts for the last 7 years.

"Families find a lot of comfort using our charts, getting back into the regime of school life requires involvement from all members of the family, and our charts provide that focal point for all to work from", says Victoria. "They help children feel good about their progress, which, in turn, allows parents and care givers to feel pleased with their child's development. All of which leads to a calmer home life".

For more information or to purchase a chart please visit www.VictoriaChartCompany.com.

My Vacation Journal – A Teacher’s Dream Getting Kids To Enjoy Writing!

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

The Victoria Chart Company, a leading UK developer of behavior and reward charts for kids, has created a fun way to keep your children busy during the summer break. 

Wondering what to do with all those special collectables that you gather during a vacation? Tickets, boarding cards, feathers, shells - all the bits that your kids must keep but end up all over your home or car! Now there is an answer. The Victoria Chart Company has produced a 20 page activity book which provides children with the perfect project for vacations.

‘My Vacation Journal’ encourages children to write, color, draw, stick, collect and eventually show what they have been doing during their time away from school. An activity that Teachers are calling out for! Inside the Journal there are seven days to write about their days events, a ‘Why not ...’ section suggesting fun things to try and do. Plus, there is a daily checklist for children to complete helping them understand the importance of sun protection especially important with the current heatwaves we’re experiencing.

“As a child I would often write daily accounts of my family vacations” says the Company’s Founder, Victoria Ballard, “and it is wonderful that I can now share them with my children. I want other families to benefit from these wonderful keepsakes that hold such memories”.

The My Vacation Journal (4yrs+) is available for $6.99 from www.VictoriaChartCompany.com. The Victoria Chart Company also produces the My Big Star Chart (1yr+) which is an excellent tool for parents when used as a potty training chart.

Make Life Easier with Summer Potty Training!

If you are thinking of potty training then Summer is the ideal time - less clothes are worn and time spent outside make the little accidents easier to deal with.  We have provided our Top 10 Tips to help make your potty training a success for both you and your child. 

1   Is your child ready?
Signs of readiness consist of your child staying dry for at least a couple of hours, they show an interest in bathroom activities, they take themselves to a quiet place or tell you when they are doing something.

2   Plan for it
Potty training is a process that will require a lot of effort, not only from yourself but from friends, family members and care givers involved with your child. Make a date from which you will all start - it is from this date you say good bye to diapers during the day.

3   Teamwork
Consistency and routine from all involved will help your child reach their goal. You may like to forewarn visitors of your efforts so they can be positive and encourage as you do. Forwarding these notes to those people who look after your child in your absence will help them to achieve the same goal.

4   Actively involve your child with their potty
You may like to take your child on a shopping trip to choose their potty - which color would they like? is there a character one they particularly like? Tell them it will be their own special potty, they may even like to choose a name for it. Decorating the potty with stickers will help them take ownership of it. You may like to demonstrate their special toy using the potty.

5   Prepare your child
Encourage your child to sit on their potty before they properly start using it, practice putting on training pants and washing their hands to complete the task. Praise them for their efforts so they know when they are doing things right.

6   Interactive supplies
Look for games, videos, books and activities that will help your child understand the importance of using their potty.

7   Don’t rush your child when they use the potty
Let them look at a book, or listen to short story for a few quiet moments when sitting on the potty. Blowing bubbles is another great way to encourage them to sit still. Tell them it is a good try and well done for sitting nicely even if they don’t achieve anything.

8   Be patient, positive and consistent
Be patient, potty training does not happen over night. Positive interaction will help your child achieve their new skill, and feel good about their progress. Accidents will happen but continue to keep up the routine, when you choose not to use diapers - stick with it! Going back and forth between diapers and training pants gives your child a confused message.

9   On the go
Long journeys will take slightly more preparation than usual. You will need to make more regular stops so make sure you leave enough travelling time. Pack all familiar supplies including books and toys when using the potty on route.

10   Use a reward chart
A reward chart provides a visual tool from which children can monitor progress. Hung in a central place, children have the added advantage of showing friends and family how well they are doing. A reward chart acts as a reminder to both adult and child what they want to accomplish. Our My Big Star Chart not only allows parents and care givers focus on potty training but suggests a range of other activities for this toddler development stage. Most importantly, parents and care givers can tailor our reward charts to the individual need of their child.   Watch demonstration video of My Big Star Chart.  Watch demo video of My Big Star Chart.


We wish you every success!


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