I read with interest the article posted by a mum named Mairead, who discussed the ‘token’ system of discipline she employed in her home when her children were younger, as my own aunt used a similar method with her own kids – and on one memorable occasion, myself included.
Like Mairead, Aunt Clare kept a chart in the kitchen – a laminated paper with a grid system and held on by magnets. Unlike Mairead, the children didn’t earn rewards on the chart for good behaviour – it was only ever used when they were naughty. The chart bore the name of her children – Ellie, who was nine at the time of this story; Jacob, who was eight and little brother Patrick, who was just three.