I know where they are coming from with this point of  view but I have spent a lot of time researching and understanding why these charts don’t work and what the powerful ingredients are in the ones that do. The result is  that I have developed a system which is very effective and works  very well as part of the HET programme.

First of all why traditional behaviour charts don’t work:

·         OK – behaviours are clearly not defined and linked to the rewards

·         Parents or teachers are inconsistent in their expectations of these behaviours

·         Parents give in – anything for a quiet life

·         Most charts don’t have a behaviour redemption facility – a buy back when we blip move! ( and we all do that –how many have relapsed on a diet or giving up smoking for example?)

·         Most charts don’t provide a facility for communicating emotions around desirable and undesirable behaviours

·         Usually the chart isn’t tailor made to your child’s individual needs and challenges

·         Most charts do not reward responsible life style choices and other positive behaviours – they just focus on the negative

Now, having identified the reasons why all of these types of charts do not work, HET has put into  place, a very powerful structure to assist parents in defining a framework for success with their child rather than an ongoing daily battleground.

Also I have found the HET approach to be invaluable where the battle ground gets heavy going when ex partners separate and one partner tries to wind up the other by feeding them with additives in their diet that the other partner wants to avoid for example.

So what is it that HET has that scores over the other types of charts:

·         It builds on the consultation process and setting targets in Stepping stone 1 so that everyone agree what the desirable and undesirable behaviours are and contract together to support the chart.

·         The child is given clear reminders and directions to keep them focused on the incentives rather than the consequences

·         The chart is flexible and adaptable to each child on the programme.

·         The chart contains a ‘buy back’ facility which encourages other positive behaviours from your child.

·         The chart encourages better life style choices which are covered in the HET programme like diet and nutrition, taking the remedies, being part of the PHEW programme, completing Eco therapy projects, green exercise etc.

·         The chart uses a communication system via emoticons to give the child a language to express feelings about the situations that cause the behaviours other than the behaviour itself.

Ok the theory sounds good but does it work?

Well, this structure has evolved with HET practitioners over the years and more importantly with families themselves, listening to their feedback and what they wanted, what worked for them and what didn’t work for them and the result is stepping stone 2 – all about how to put this system in place.

Why don’t you try it and find out? You have our support to help you!

At this point I will hand you over to ‘G’ – I have obviously removed any other reference to the family to respect confidentiality but here is an example of a very successful behaviour chart system we used for this family with a daughter with ADHD and an example of one of the weekly charts she produced with the family.