Description of discipline technique:
Two small(ish) things:
1. Homework!! Home caregiver, try grading it, if that works for your child. My son (Grade 1) is motivated by grades. He has a homework book in which the afternoon's homework is set out by the teacher. A space is left for me, mum, to sign when mission is accomplished. I started adding a grade for each item of homework (taken from the grading system used on the report card) and a small comment addressed to teacher on how child tackled the work, attitude etc...always on a POSITIVE note. He is not yet what I would call exactly eager to do homework, but gets on with it now without pouting or dragging his feet and really puts effort into making it good - and the grade at the end always makes him beam! Almost worth doing the work!

It occurs to me this might not work once the teachers start giving grades for the homework!!

2. He loves to read and I think this is partly due to the fact that I have always let them both (he has a younger brother) read in bed after being put to bed. No other post bedtime activities are allowed! This has given them both the time and space to learn to treasure books. I must confess to being a great believer in constructive boredom. No TV, no computer, turn them off - just go find something to do, child! Use your imagination! Have you no inner resources? (As my mother used to say.)

Appropriate age group(s):
lower elementary school