Is giving a Speak Life Badge to motivate or to reward your children effective?
What difference will a sticker make when I can just reward them with TV time, video game time, or a candy? That’s my default reward anyway.
Speak Life Badges is a nice idea, but how can it work for me?
Listen in to this episode of Q&A Thursday as Kimberly answers these great questions.
We have covered a lot of ground in this Q&A Thursday, including:
2:15 – What motivates, motivates. So if extra TV time, extra video game time, or a treat motivates your children, then award them with that. If you are unsure of what really motivates your children, ask them.
2:37 – Hold up there! Have you seen this recent episode of @ Home with the KIDS? If not, check it out as I answer this question of “Why should I give a Speak Life Badge?” in a fun way.
3:24 – It’s not a new idea to award someone with a badge, a medal, a trophy, or a prize for an extraordinary accomplishment. Native Americans wore headdresses to signify status and war honors as well a specific deeds accomplished.
3:33 – Medals such as the Medal of Honor, the Stanley Cup, the Super Bowl trophy, and the Olympic gold, silver, and bronze medals are given to the best of the best in recognition of outstanding achievement and success.
4:31 – Speak Life Badges is no different. They are sticker award badges that you can give to your children when they achieve, succeed, and need encouragement.
5:31 – Speak Life Badges goes further than just “Great Job! Way to go! You did it!” The sticker award badge speaks to the character of your child, who they are as a person, and who they can grow to become. The truth that you intentionally speak over them as you award them a badge – now they can #wearit and #ownit.
6:32 – Kimberly shares a little bit of the story behind Speak Life Badges and how it came to be after she made a tutoring student cry.
Speak Life Badges is not meant to be a curriculum or a study that you need to spend hours studying or memorizing. It is meant to be a simple tool that you can refer back to when you need to address character growth, to award them for their accomplishments, and to encourage them to work through their weaknesses.
Leave your sticker award books on a side table in your living room. Leave it on the island in the kitchen. Keep it in the room where you do school with your kids. And when the moment arises when you want to celebrate obeying right away, keeping a good attitude, not whining, sharing, being kind to a sibling, helping around the house, being diligent, and not giving up, grab your Speak Life Badges book and award your child with a sticker while saying your words of encouragement.
If you are not sure of what to say, then read over the script and chose a line or two that works for your child and the moment. It’s OK to read from the book.
Still stuck on how to give a Speak Life Badge? Watch this short video clip from Kimberly.
Now I would love to hear from you.
What part of this episode resonated most and why? Can you see yourself giving your children Speak Life Badges to celebrate their achievements?
Important: Share your thoughts and ideas directly in the comments. Keep your comments positive, as no bad attitudes are allowed here. Nor is judgment or criticism allowed. We are here to cheer each other on in this amazing parenting journey together. Links to other posts, videos, etc. will be removed.
It’s important that you hear this:
Your intentional words of truth spoken to your children as you celebrate their accomplishments and encourage them in their weaknesses means so much to them! As you speak belief, potential and encouragement, these words will far outlast extra TV and video game time or a sugary treat.
With enormous love,
Kimberly
