Re: Back to School - Good Job Jar

[Guest guest]

great idea

Back to School - "Good Job Jar"

Hi, thought I'd post this idea we used with our son (6yrs, ASD). Our son was anxious about going back to school and last year was a nightmare so I too was anxious It was mostly separation from me, but he also said the noise of the other students coupled with all the transitioning, fire drills etc. that goes on is just too much for him.

We created a "Good Job Jar"...piggy bank jar from the dollar store and he decorated it himself. He is sooooo proud of this jar. When he thinks he has enough money, he gets to take it to the toy store and buy any toy of his choice. It's a "put-in" concept only for us and it teaches him about regulation and responsibily for his own behaviours.

Example: First day of school, they called me to pick him up after lunch because he had had a long day??? (I think the teachers had had a long day) I explained to him that there were 3 recesses, not 2 so he only got 2 quarters to put in the jar. The next day he stayed for the full day and was proud that he did it. The day after, he had a fire drill which he was very anxious about and calmed himself...he was proud he did that, the next day they had science and he sat quietly on the carpet with his peers and focussed/participated in the lesson...he was proud of that.

It's really set him on a path of his own discovery...thought I'd share!