Another Sticker Chart Success for Janae

The last several weeks before Christmas--and the first few days back after--Janae had a lot of separation anxiety every time I took her to preschool.



We knew there could be several explanations for this . . . but since it seemed to be getting worse instead of better (and lasted even when I stayed), I thought I'd better take some action.

Janae had had a similar experience with swimming lessons last spring: she had loved her class, then suddenly refused to go. At the time she'd had her eye on a princess Barbie . . . so I bought the doll, then set up a sticker chart. Every time she went to swimming, she got a sticker until--finally--the Barbie was hers.



I was a little surprised, since I'd never had any luck using sticker charts with the kids for potty training or chores, but--obviously-- I was glad things had worked out so well.

With this parenting success behind me, I thought I'd pull the sticker chart card once again.

And once again it worked like a charm :)

For quite some time, Janae had been commenting on her desire for a "ladybug" umbrella. Not just an umbrella with ladybugs on it, but a particular style that has eyes raised above the top of the umbrella. Janae had seen a similarly styled "frog" umbrella, and had said that even that would do.

Of course, we have a pile of various other types of umbrella in our closet, so I'd resisted Janae's pleas.



But . . . luckily I knew how to speak Janae's language.

I drew a picture of an umbrella, had Janae color it, then day by day the stickers came.

Since the mere mention of the chart, Janae has happily waved goodbye when we've arrived at preschool.

 

When things started to seem promising, we looked for a ladybug umbrella online (I couldn't find any at our local stores). It was then that Janae spotted a kitty cat one that she liked even better.

The much-anticipated packaged arrived on Wednesday . . . and stayed in a very safe place until this afternoon.

 

So what happened to the tears, pleas for another hug, mad dashes after me as I walked out the door? Thanks to the sticker chart, they are all just a memory now.

 

A memory that will hopefully be clouded out by an upcoming rainstorm so Janae will be able to put this little item to good use :)