Tic~Tac Currency

I once taught a small group of boys. At only 7-8 years of age, this group already held the title of being "problem children". With a slew of people who knew of their antics first-hand, I wondered how I could reach these young boys and achieve a different outcome.

Thinking back to a child psychology course I took in college, I remembered learning that the term currency can be applicable outside the world of money and finance. According to psychologists, everyone has their own form of currency and it is often different for each person.  Non-traditional currency such as tokens, stickers or even going to the movies, can be worth its weight in gold. The key is to find an item or experience that the person values. Something that could be viewed as their personal currency. This mindset is founded on the principles of operant conditioning, where positive reinforcement increases the likelihood of the desired behavior.

Enter the Tic~Tac Currency....

Walking into the compact classroom, I placed a tic tac container on the small round table. As these spirited boys entered the room, they immediately noticed the brightly colored mints on display in the middle of the room. I was instantly peppered with questions. With their attention riveted on me for the answers they needed, I went on to explain that the tic~tacs were theirs. However, they had to be earned.

Our class lasted only 45 minutes, so I set the benchmark, stating that anyone who could be quiet during that time, would earn a tic~tac. However, they could also earn a tic~tac for participating or helping to clean up after class. Some left our class with a small cluster of

tic-tacs. Others earned only one. On rare occasions, a student might leave class without earning any tic~tacs. This was motivation enough to do better the next time.

For the investment of a pack of tic~tacs, I was able to reinforce the desired behavior from these so-called "problem children". It was an inexpensive, yet hightly effective form of currency. One tic~tac at a time, these boys learned how to behave properly in class. Just like the rest of us, they could still have an off day. When they forgot how to sit in a chair properly or how to use their "inside voices", a simple shake of the tic~tac container was all it took to get them back on track.

In time, I went on to adopt the Tic~Tac Currency with my own children. This strategy provided an incentive for everything from a grocery haul to a doctor's appointment. Over the years, I have gone through countless containers of tic~tacs, yet I continue to be amazed that something so small can prompt such big changes.