Earning systems tend to be based on gaining positive consequences. “I have posted a list of five things I want you to do every weekday to help me at home. At the end of each week we will check off which ones you have done. For 25 checks, you get to pick out a movie to rent to watch this weekend. For 20 to 24 checks, you get to pick out a favorite meal this weekend. For 15 to 19 checks, you get to go out and get ice cream this weekend.” The weekend has become reward time for working hard all week.

With earning systems, a child attaches choices made now with gaining something special later. In addition, the posted list of “five things” serves as a daily reminder for the child about what parents want him or her to regularly do for them. What makes earning systems work is making sure the rewards being offered are ones that the individual child values, and that rewards earned are promptly and faithfully provided.

So the first step in setting up the system is sitting with the child and coming up with a list of rewards that he or she would really value earning, special things not usually provided. Of course, few rewards have lasting interest, so parents and child have to keep altering the earning system to keep rewards appealing.

These systems can help your child learn responsibility as well as responsible behaviors, which will result in your goal of raising a responsible child.