Making a Treasure Box!!! Need Some Ideals

I am sooooo glad that you posted this. We have been trying to figure out different ways to help improve my son's behavior in school & home & have just drawn blanks. I LOVE the Dollar Tree & another idea that my husband had suggested we try to do to motivate him was make little pockets on a poster board with different things he would like to purchase ranging in price from $5 to $50 & add play money for everytime he did something great, wherever he wanted to put it, & then let him go buy a new game or movie just for him. We would even let him put one up there for his favorite restaurant & let him build up enough to go out to dinner one night where he wanted to go. I can't wait to see what kind of responses you will be getting & might have to incorporate them in my home. THANKS MOMS!!!!

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You could even do something like give him the money and create chart of values such as: If he earns so many funny dollars, he can have extra play time, or stay up a little bit late one night, pick a movie to watch, invite a friend over to play, and so on. You can probably think of many free treats to give him that are not actually material objects. The bigger the treat, the larger the required dollar amount. I have done things for my kids, like make a schedule of actual monetary values such as: 25 cents per book read. Each task that they completed was worth something different. We kept a tally, and on payday, I would give them their accrued earnings, explaining to them that grown ups also get paid for doing good work.

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I go to the dollar stores - each store has different products - like dollar general has certain things - then the 99 cents store has other things. I use the treasure box as a reward system for potty training...as nothing else has ever worked....but he loves treasure shopping and then getting to pick out treasures too! We do everything from toys to books, pencils, markers, there are usually tons of things to choose from. Good Luck!

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The Dollar Tree has all kinds of cool toys and items (even boxes) for $1 each

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Sounds like you're on the right track.

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The dollar tree is your best bet they have a lot of fun things for kids and everything is a dollar.Good luck!!!

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Go to the dollar store there are all sorts of great things for under 5.oo. We have also tried celebration nights for rewards where we have a carpet picnic and watch funny home videos or rent a movie. They also have loved candle light dinners and bubble baths for rewards. Bike rides, walks, trips to the park, zoo, discovery science place or just Mc D's play ground works great!! Good Luck!

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Try the dollar tree in Plano off of 15th street in front of Collin Creek mall. Everything in there is a dollar and they have really cool things. Sometimes they have toys that are spiderman 3, Shrek, and other popular names.

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My son's teacher also collects the drive thru happy meal toys and leaves them in the plastic. Her sister and some of the parents also give these to her for the treasure box.

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What a wonderful idea. It is so sad because I've had 4 boys (about the same age spread) and I'm racking my brain trying to come up with ideas for $5 or under and not having much luck. I remember the cool pencils were always a big deal with them. Besides candy, I might add other treats - like a whole box of Little Debbie Snacks - little pudding 4-packs. For Christmas one year, I fixed my oldest son a big box of nothing but treats, he was 13 & loved it and the other kids would sometimes request a box like that for Christmas. I had snack crackers, microwave Pop Corn, also, Beef Jerky, not just sweets. I remember getting stuck on what to put in Christmas Stockings that didn't cost much & was not great at finding much for under $5. If they like trading cards or playing cards that might be an idea. Comic Books or Sports Illustrated. I'm really out of ideas but the Treasure Box IS a wonderful idea & hopefully some other Moms can give you better ideas on what to put in it. Best of Luck
R. M

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Great Idea! I am trying to think of a way to do that in our home, too.

If you go to Orientaltrading.com, there are lots of little inexpensive toys there. I think it was Highlights Magazine's online catalog that has a jar full of little balls that have prizes inside. Kind of a ready-made treasure chest in a sense.

Other things that could work: Hotwheels (99 cents each usually). Target has a section with plastic toys, a lot of them 99 cents. You can also try art supplies, small play do containers (come in packs of 4 or 6 I think).

I've also read where you can include "coupons" for activities that the kids like. Play a board game, do a field trip, etc. I hope people have ideas for those, too!

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What a wonderful idea for positive responses to your kids. that is both creative and loving. I am not a big fan of candy or food for rewards personally, but how about coupons, such as your choice for cereal at the store this week. You may have a week of sugary cereal, but it is a week long reward that way. Or you choose dinner night from the following choices, or carte blanche (your choice). Kids love to get choices, kind of like you cut and the other one picks.
I am so proud of all of you new moms out there that are being so positive instead of always negative discipline.
K. @ The Nestingplace.

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I agree about movie certificates. We give them to our children (grown) and our grandchildren, 8,4,2 as stocking stuffers - and they always like them. I'm always for rewarding good behavior! Good luck.

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Try Target and Michaels. They both have a dollar spot with tons of bins of items for $1.00.

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L.,

We have a treasure box for the older kids in our preschool. They earn dollars. They each have a pocket on a bulletin board, and on Fridays they go "shopping". They can buy a toy in the treasure chest for $5 each.

I got most of the toys from Oriental Trading(most toys are in a bulk of 12-24), and Party America(you can get the same things, just not in bulk).

Good Luck, and Have Fun!!

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Some ideas:

home made gift certificate for "movie night" when they are good they can win a movie night out at the movies.

Real gift certificates for Toys r us ($5.00-$10.00) or favorite restraunts, movie, bowling,

what ever there "curancy" is use it.

I just took my almost 5 year old out for a "date night with mom" to the BEE movie (SOOO CUTE!) and he loved it. we got pop corn and m&m's and drinks and really had a fun night out. Sunday I am taking my 3 year old to the Ice cream store just for a Date night as well.

kids really appreciate stuff like that and it makes memories. I remember when my dad used to take me to breakfast sometimes before school and it was just the 2 of us. He died when I was 14 so I will never forget those times we had together, special like I was the most improtant person in the world for those moments...

Time is worth more than stuff but if the kids are more motivated by stuff, then I would try to redirect their motivation and try stuff that they are interested in. Be creative and think outside the box. Also, tey a scavenger hunt for their prize like a "Real" treasure hunt. that would be fun.

A. J

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hmm try HEB seasonal stuff, like example Halloween spider rings and glow stuff...stickers....sip cups with straws

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what is his age? have you looked into why he is not doing well at school? Is it learning disabilities or not understanding the teacher, or behavior? Rage or anger displays? Needing attention or approval? Unmet emotional needs as well unmet physical needs of proper nutrients show up as discipline problems. Cure the root problem not just cover up the symptom (just like a physical disease)

Emphasize character quality instead of just performance. Meet their needs for attention and affection and approval before they "beg" for it thru bad behavior.

I wouldn't reward with food tho - or candy - the little Matchbox cars are a fun reward if they are into that. Surprise them sometimes for no reason at all too.

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My friend does the same thing, she uses marbles for money. Each kid has a jar to save their marbles in and when they get 30 marbles they can buy something out of the box. (Her kids can earn 3 marbles a day if they do everything they're supposed to do and her requirements are listed on a piece of poster board stuck to the refrigerator.) It works really good for her. Some other ideas for your box would be stickers, erasers, small puzzles, and homemade coupons for things like 30 minutes at the park, friend over on a weekend, ice cream cone, 30 minutes on a video game, etc.

I see that several people suggested oriental trading, I've ordered a few times from them and decided that the price of shipping costs far more than the extra I would spend buying something a little bit nicer that I can see and choose in person at a store.

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Another idea I the kids love is coupons. At Kroger they sold coupons books for children, adults, moms etc. The one I purchased was for children and has coupons like; have dessert before dinner, have a pretend birthday party even when its not your real birthday, get one hour of mom or daddy's time to do what you want to do. Get the idea. Hope your treasure box works, sounds like a wonderful idea.

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L.,

Hi how are you doing today. I work in the education field so I have seen many treasure boxes. Through trainings and studies that I have read and attended they can be good but also can be bad.

If you are making a box for your child keep in mind every time your child does something good you are going to reward them. So they are going to pick up on that. They know that if they do something good they will get something return. They are not learning to be to be good. They are learning to be good because they are getting something in return.

Also some things you need to shy away from for example. Candy. You are rewarding your child with cavities as well. I know in our field you are not allowed to reward with food per state licensing.

Stamps are good. You can always wash it off if they are not making good choices.

Just thought I would help.

E.

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You know...back in the day (many, many, days ago!!).... McDonalds had those coupon booklets that came out around the holidays. If they still have those, I think they were $5 and it was something like 5 coupons for ice cream. (If you are smiling because you remember these...you may be as old as me!!) I remember being estatic at getting a coupon for ice cream because I didn't get to eat it often. Just a thought!!

But even if MickeyD's don't have those anymore, you may be able to buy seperate gift cards for his favorite fast food or ice cream place.

Both of our sons birthdays' are this weekend and I have been telling people to get gift certificates to the movies, bowling alley, the teachers supply store (my kids love it there). You could get a Gift Certificate or Gift card for the cost of a movie or game of bowling...or even skating.

I am excited to hear the other responses!

M.
www.WorkAtHomeHouston.com
www.WellnessStartsInTheHome.com

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Dollar tree...
they have some neat stuff there...
You might also be able to find some small stuff at Garden Ridge.

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My idea has seemed to have spread well. I started this with my three kids about a year ago and have posted it on Craigs List and shared this with many parents and teachers at my son's school. I put in everything you listed above, but stick to real money so thier bank accounts can grow, from change to dollar bills. I also take the kids to the dollar store to pick out what they want to go in it. It works well, have fun with it!

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Check out the Oriental Trading Company magazine and website! They have lots of fun novelties that are sold in bulk and are very inexpensive.

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I made a reward box like what you are referring too, but I made gift certificates for things like "good for 1 free ice cream cone at McDonalds" or "good for a trip to the park", "one free movie/game rental", "one free happy meal", "$5 bucks for a toy of your choice", "one free candy bar", "one fun-buck", "two fun-bucks". We also included bigger prizes such as a trip to the zoo, ice skating, horseback riding, that she could "cash" in her fun-bucks if she had enough. It took twenty five fun bucks to go to the zoo. The big prizes were certificates that were glued to the outside of the reward box, so she saw them every time she drew out a certificate, and we had an envelope glued to the side for the fun-bucks she collected. She got the fun bucks for keeping up with her chores (without being told) as well as drawing some out of the box, so she was able to save them up for the "big" prizes. It worked great for us! Good Luck.

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What about some home made certificates with different activities that would involve both you and the child having some time together, like a picnic at the park or a trip to McDonald's or whatever interests them. When my boys were young they loved to go to Dairy Queen for ice cream or to McDonald's for a HappyMeal (mostly so they could play on the toys). Then you have time to share with them to show them you appreciate their accomplishments. I was a single mom too and they really just loved my attention and involvement more than anything (I think they felt sad and lonely since Dad wasnt around much).

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Good morning,

Try yo-yo's and balls.. Go to the dollar general or family dollar store and see what kind of toys they have.

Good luck
D.

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