Sandwiched Club

When Madam Bacon and I sat down to talk about new habits over dinner, we decided: let’s turn good habits into something tangible with our children. We crafted a reward chart around key habits—reading, chores, exercise, screen moderation, nutrition, kindness, and celebrating successes. Every time the kids ticked off a positive action, they earned a tick—and those ticks could be traded for screen time, Beyblade battles, or even real money for toys.

It felt a bit strange at first. Rewarding our kids with tokens? It seemed almost transactional. But what we didn’t expect was how a system built on immediate, positive reinforcement—not nagging—could help channel Focaccia’s ADHD brain. And since we already had this going for her brother, it turned out to be a great motivation for Carbonara too.

Why it works for ADHD
ADHD brains crave immediate feedback. Reward systems have been shown to enhance attention and performance in children with ADHD—improving focus and engagement in ways that are less effective, or even counterproductive, in neurotypical kids. Children with ADHD are more responsive to rewards and often show greater improvement when these are woven into daily tasks. Rewards also stimulate dopamine production, helping the prefrontal cortex stay focused—especially during effortful or mundane activities.

How our system plays out
Weighted assessments: We rolled this out a month before his first weighted assessments. Before that, getting Focaccia to revise was… let’s just say, challenging. So we tied ticks to scores—90% and above earned 10 ticks; 80–90%, 4 ticks; 70–80%, 2 ticks. Below that, no ticks. I also guided him to revise first—because it wasn’t just about doing the paper, but preparing for it. He stayed motivated, and his results showed: a string of 4-tick and even a 10-tick Science paper.

Weekly reviews: Every week, we sit down with the kids to reassess goals. Carbonara asked to increase her reading target—all for the same number of ticks. From 3 pages to 15, and she now matches her brother! For her, the reward wasn’t the ticks—it was watching herself grow.

Sibling teamwork: When one falls short, the other sometimes shares a tick to watch TV together. Or they negotiate how to split screen time. Watching them flex those empathy muscles? That’s reward in itself.

Building habits, not just chasing points
We’re constantly fine-tuning the tasks. Chores now include getting ready without reminders. Exercise is 30 minutes daily—to help Focaccia release energy and stay centred. Reading remains a priority, especially in today’s AI age, where so much interaction is through text. We’re also promoting kindness and nutrition—with bonus ticks for eating veggies or using kind words with family.

It mirrors the “token economy” model: small, immediate rewards that shape behaviour and teach self-management over time. By making expectations explicit and rewards immediate, the chart meets the ADHD brain’s craving for near-term payoff—while helping build long-term habits.

Watching the change
Boosted confidence: Every tick is a recognition of effort. When Focaccia stacks enough for a Beyblade session, he beams—not just from the play, but from the pride of earning it.

Improved attention: With clear goals and near-term rewards, both kids follow through better. There’s less chasing, fewer reminders.

Team spirit: The chart has become a shared game—kids cheering each other on, negotiating trades, and looking out for one another.

Caveats and care
Reward systems aren’t magic. We’re learning to balance material and experiential rewards, shifting the focus toward effort and pride. The chart isn’t a rigid contract. We adjust weekly—make it too easy, and it’s pointless. Too hard, and motivation disappears. It’s a living tool.

A model for real learning
What began as a tick-box idea has grown into a way to build skills, grow focus, and nurture emotional resilience.

For kids like Focaccia—who thrive on novelty and quick feedback—it works. The structure, the short-term goals, the sense of progress. Research backs this up: positive reinforcement in small, meaningful doses helps turn good intentions into habits that last.

What’s next?
We’re sticking with weekly reviews—adding new goals, adjusting rewards, encouraging the kids to set their own benchmarks. The goal isn’t to need ticks forever. It’s to nurture motivation from within.

That’s the dream. A system that teaches them to believe in themselves. To act on curiosity, not just for a reward—but for the joy of growing.

If you’d like the Google Doc template we use, just let me know. For now, the fridge has a new centrepiece: a proudly printed reward sheet, flanked by a few gold stars and a dried-out marker cap. Small reminders that every day brings small wins—and that’s something worth celebrating.