Age group(s) for which this technique is helpful:
Elementary School

Primarily used to improve behavior:
At Home

Instructions for using this technique:
I purchased this package online- just google it- you'll find it. This system allows you to reward your kid for doing good and tracks areas that need improvement. The kids earn points and deductions to save to buy a voucher for a special activity at the end of the week (computer time, trip to the movies, trip to the hobby shop- whatever). It has nearly eliminated time outs since he repsonds quick when I tell him, "I'm going to have to take 10 points now for violating rule x..."

Other information parents should consider before using this technique:
You have to sit down and tell them how it works and show them what they are working for. If your kid has the "I'm entitled to it" attitude or is a bargainer, you may have to set a cap for how many points they can earn each day to stop them from doing good just to get things.

You have to have a planning session with them at the beginning of the next week to discuss what behaviours you're going to work on (I keep them written on a dry erase board in the kitchen as this week's goals). And you MUST follow through on your promises (if they earned a voucher for a trip to the ice cream parlor, you better make time to take them or else the vouchers lose their value entirely). Sometimes this means they get to hold a voucher for a few days and cash it in later - you've got to honor them, even if they've been awful ten minutes before. But, you can always suspend cashing in vouchers for a day or two if something warrants a sever crack down.