8 to 10 years plus

This older group needs a different approach, but reward charts could still have an effect with specific behavior.

At this age, your child is beginning to be more aware of the value of items and actions, so try keeping a list of behavior you’d like to encourage, alongside a list of things your child could be rewarded with for working towards them. Explain that she can gain or lose privileges based on her good or bad behavior, and try using a thought box or video diary instead of disciplining with time out.

As with all reward charts, your child will engage more readily if she has helped choose her final reward – one to one time with mom or dad, a trip to the movies. And once your child has earned her reward she’ll be all the more ready to maintain her good behavior if you give it to her promptly.