A follow up to Sticker Charts

It's WORKING! I had posted that we were trying sticker charts to get our oldest more comfortable talking to friends in preschool and answering questions when asked by adults. Well, I am proud to report, it's worked. Actually, I asked his preschool teacher to help me out with it and she continued the sticker chart at preschool. She gave him a sticker every time he joined in the songs, answered one of her questions, etc. His chart had 10 stickers on it the first day, 15 the second day and over 20 the next. The following Monday his teacher asked if he wanted to do another sticker chart again and he said "No, I can do it." YAHOO! Though still shy, he's made a huge improvement. And shy is okay! This was one of his rewards for getting his sticker chart filled up. SUP boarding in October? Yes, it was 85 here yesterday (unseasonably warm for the Pacific NW).

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?