Sticks and Carrots

When I'm on my game, I can get my kids to be on their best behavior by referencing the "I am Special Today" plate.  It's just a silly plate that I painted at the ceramics store, but it really has caught my kids attention. 

I would say I use the plate once a week, maybe less. It usually alternates between my kids, being earned for something like a "Soo bahk do stripe", "School award", "Good manners", "Being a great helper making dinner", etc.  I think my husband even got it once for something similar, like helping to land a new multi-million dollar account. My kids seemed a little disappointed that it wasn't for anything cool!