Blessing and a Curse

I've found the internet to be a blessing and a curse. I tend to try to self-diagnosis myself, or my kids for any of our ailments. For example...my son is a talker. Once you get him started, you're lucky to get a word in edgewise. However, he is silent at school. As in does not talk. At. All. So, I looked it up on the internet. Of course, the first thing that pops up is Selective Mutism. Crap. He fits it to a T. He chats us up at home. He doesn't say a word at school (and never did his entire first 3 months of preschool in the spring). He has a HUGE vocabulary and remembers things that were only repeated once, and can then appropriately use them in a sentence. However, when it comes to preschool...this child doesn't speak. When he's asked a question, he doesn't answer. It's like he doesn't hear the person asking the question. So...we're taking a proactive stance. We went to the craft store and allowed our son to pick out some crafts to make his own chart. We then labeled it appropriate for what he's working on. 

We're hoping that the positive reward will work in getting him to at least acknowledge someone speaking with him. So far...it's worked. (sigh of relief) Today is the real test. He has preschool again today. We'll see if it helps him open up at all. After all, there is a prize waiting for him once he gets enough stickers. (yes, I am bribing my child)


Do you use sticker charts for anything? If so, what? Have you found it effective?