Easy Child

 

Getting Started

 

Easy Child is a behavioral management system which is set up in weekly cycles. This week's behavior affects next week's privileges. Privileges are awarded by Levels shown in the "Level Chart". Behaviors are tracked on a paper worksheet called the "Point Sheet". The Level that a child reaches is determined by their points earned from the positive behaviors and points lost from the negative behaviors. The program's weekly cycle begins on Saturday and ends on Friday. Once a week, the parent enters the Point Sheet into the computer. The allowance and all applicable privileges earned from the previous week will be in effect for the next week, starting Saturday morning. Ideally, the parent will print out the Points sheet, Level Chart and Summary report and place them onto a bulletin board, wall, or other common place where the entire family can track and view the information ("Family Area").

 

I. Setting up Family

 

1. Click the 'Family Info' button and enter in all applicable family information.

 

2. Click the 'Add' button in Family Setup to begin creating all family members.

 

II. Setting up Behaviors

 

1. Click the 'Point Worksheet' button from top.

 

2. Behaviors will be created and tracked on a daily basis using points. More difficult or important behaviors should have a higher point value than easier or less serious behaviors.

 

3. Click one of the three main behaviors or a system default behavior to begin creating a new or suggested behavior.

 

A. 'Expected Behaviors' are behaviors that are expected on one or more days of the week. When creating 'Expected Behaviors', there will be an option to check the day(s) the behaviors will be expected. By not checking any day(s) when creating a new or suggested 'Expected Behavior', the behavior will then be created as an 'Extra Behavior.'

 

B. 'Extra Behaviors' are behaviors that are not expected on any day of the week, but help a child earn more points. Extra behaviors will also help compensate for loss of points from not performing 'Expected Behaviors' or negative points accumulated from 'Other Behaviors.' By checking any day(s) expected when creating a new or suggested 'Extra Behavior', the behavior will then be created as an 'Expected Behavior.'

 

C. 'Other Behaviors' are behaviors that are unacceptable and will always have a negative point value. Because they are negative behaviors, checking days expected is not an applicable option.

 

III. Setting up Privileges

 

1. Click on the 'Levels' button in the main window.

 

2. There can be up to a total of 7 levels created with the highest being the ‘Super Level.' The bottom level does not have any privileges. The privileges must be created for the each level except the bottom level.

 

3. Create privileges  that are basic and “common” for the lower levels. A child and the parent should sit down together to decide the special yet appropriate privileges for the ‘Super Level' and top levels. This allows children to have an input in setting their goals and gives them further incentives to accomplish their personal goals in the system. This process helps a child to learn about the outlook on setting goals, the work needed to obtain goals, and the feeling of accomplishment by being rewarded in the future.

 

4. The points needed for each level is determined by the point value of 'Expected Behaviors.' Each level has a percentage which is calculated according to the performance percentage of total 'Expected Behaviors.' Below is a chart showing the default percentage of total 'Expected Behaviors' needed to meet each level. However, these percentages can be adjusted if preferred.

 

% of Total Expected Behaviors Performed

Level

110%*Extra Behaviors must be performed in addition

Super Level

90%*Average Performance Level

Level A

70%

Level B

50%

Level C

30%

Level D

20%

Level E

10 %

Level F

 

5. If ‘Super Level’ or Level A, for example, is obtained by a child, all the privileges in each lower level are also incorporated with their earned privileges.

 

6. Allowance is an optional function in the Level Chart. To use the allowance function, a money amount needs to be selected for each point earned from the Points worksheet. This should be adjusted so the 'Allowance Earned' for the Level A is what would be preferred for a child to earn on an average week.

 

7. Print out the Level Chart and place in the "Family Area" for the member(s) and Parent(s) to view.

 

III. Weekly Behavior Cycle

 

1. Easy Child’s behavioral management system is set up in weekly cycles. This week's behavior affects next week's privileges. The program's weekly cycle begins on Saturday and ends on Friday. Therefore, every week, a parent(s) needs to set up new sets of behaviors and privileges for the child.

 

2. Print out a paper worksheet called the "Point Sheet." Place it in the "Family Area" where both the child(ren) and Parent(s) can view, and check the behaviors on a daily basis and track them as often as when the behaviors occur.

 

3. In addition, there is an option to print out a paper worksheet with multiple daily point sheets called the "Daily Point Pad." These daily worksheets can be placed into a pad where the parent(s) can carry it around. Behaviors can be checked once a day or as behaviors occur.

 

4. Ideally, the information from the previous week should be entered into the computer on Saturday mornings. The level and allowance earned will be calculated in the Points worksheet and any allowance or privileges will be in effect for the following week.

 

5. Click on the 'Summary' button in the main window. This worksheet will display the member’s current status in the system. It shows which privileges are earned, Money transactions, Incidents that occurred, and the Tokens transactions. Print this out each week and place it in the "Family Area."