CrabbieMasters – a fun parenting and teaching resource for early childhood

Let's learn how to Beat The Crabbies!!!!

FIRST know this...you CAN Beat The Crabbies!!! Just BEAT ’em one by one!

Here are some recommended steps:

Printing The Crabbies
CrabbieMaster Charts
Presenting The Crabbies
Role Playing
Fun Rewards

Printing The Crabbies

1. Head to the Fun Stuff section of this website and use the Printables section.

2 . Print out the picture of “The Eight Most Wanted Crabbies”. Having visuals around the house (or classroom) works great.

3. Print out each individual picture of The Crabbies.

4. Hang the printed pictures of The Crabbies in places they belong: Too-Tired in the bedroom; Hungry and Junk-Food in the kitchen; Achey on the bathroom door, etc.

5. Print color copies of the Crabbie you are working on (starting with Too-Tired, the #1 Crabbie), along with coloring sheets and a CrabbieMaster chart (explained below)

If you do not have a color printer, select the Black & White versions and color them in by hand. (This is a good exercise anyway. It reinforces learning The Crabbies!) Repeat these steps as you go through Crabbies #2, #3, #4 ... #8 (The KING). There is no need to do them all up front...just, as you learn and teach them!

Printout a chart in the Fun Stuff:Printables section. Each time the child beats the Crabbie he or she is working on, according to the standards you have set up together, he or she can place a sticker in the proper space on the chart. When all the spaces are filled, the child is a CrabbieMaster. Be sure to only give the sticker if the child does what is agreed on for earning it.

Use the chart as a POSITIVE, not to point out negative behaviors. This will help the child see that you REALLY ARE on his or her side against The Crabbies. If he or she does not earn a sticker, that is the only consequence needed. The theory of the CrabbieMasters is that consequences will be a natural result of not beating a Crabbie. There is no need for you to say anything negative. Be empathetic and encouraging so that the child keeps trying. Be sincere and this WILL WORK in the long run.

Use incentives and rewards. During the process of becoming a CrabbieMaster, most children need incentives as well as stickers for the chart. Incentives don’t need to be big in order to be meaningful and effective. Try things like fake tattoos, bath bubbles, fingernail polish…anything that will make Beating The Crabbies fun! A reward is usually slightly ‘bigger’ than an incentive and something promised from the beginning to look forward to when the child becomes a CrabbieMaster. (Don’t forget to print a CrabbieMaster certificate when the child completes the chart.)

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Presenting The Crabbies (Home...Preschool...Daycare...Anywhere!)

The #1 point to remember is to keep it FUN!

Whether you are introducing The Crabbies to your own children, in a classroom, or anywhere else, it really makes no difference.

You can easily adapt the ideas described to your needs.

Even though children find it FUN, it really does teach VALUES.

Introduce The Crabbies by saying something like:

“Hey, everyone.... Let’s sit down and I will show you what I found.”

Then follow these steps to introduce everyone to The Crabbies:

• Show a color poster of “The Eight Most Wanted Crabbies”; The Crabbies are ‘colorful’ and this is definitely part of what makes them so fascinating and memorable to children.
• Tell the children that The Crabbies all have names and then name two or three. Watch for them trying to guess other Crabbies’ names!! Let them!! Make it FUN!!
• Tell them that we’re all going to learn to BEAT The Crabbies, that other families, or children in preschool, daycare, etc., have learned how to BEAT The Crabbies, and that we/they can too!
• Tell them that they become CrabbieMasters as they beat each Crabbie! Explain that there is a whole plan for BEATING every one of The Crabbies!
• Show one of The CrabbieMasters Certificates that they will get as they learn to BEAT each of The Crabbies.
• Tell them about the prizes and special treats they will get each time they become a CrabbieMaster of one of The Crabbies.
• Show them the picture of Too-Tired. That’s the one to introduce first. (Color is best!)
• Ask them if they want to know about Too-Tired, then tell them about Too-Tired!

Role Playing

You pretend to be a child that the Too-Tired Crabbies just got to. By making it FUN!! By acting out! Get down on your knees like you are short like a child.

YES! ABSOLUTELY!! ITS REQUIRED!!!

When the time is right:
“Brush Off Those Crabbies!”
“Blow Out Your Crabbies!”
“Sweep’em Right Out The Door!”

You act as the child with The Crabbies, and have the child act as a grown-up (i.e. parent, teacher, etc). Have him or her greet you by saying, “Hello” or “Good morning” (or whatever fits the situation). As soon as he or she says, “Good morning,” cut loose with all the “Crabbie Comments” you can think of!

“Don’t talk to me!”
“Don’t look at me!”
“Leave me alone!”
“Go away!”
“I don’t want to talk to you!”

By now, all the kids will probably be laughing their heads off! Take advantage of the laughter and let yourself be as silly as you can be:

• Fall all the way to the floor (if you are on your knees like you are supposed to be this shouldn’t be too bad!).
• Perform a mock “temper tantrum” for them. Kick your legs too! They will love it!
• Finally, when the time is right, go ahead and get back up and ask them if they want to learn more about The Crabbies and how to become a CrabbieMaster. We think they’ll say, “Yes!”
• Explain that they’re going to learn to BEAT The Crabbies! Together... one at a time. Too-Tired will be first because... “Too-Tired is the worst Crabbie in the whole universe!”
• Show them the CrabbieMaster Chart; explain that they get a Crabbie Sticker on the chart if they go to bed without a hassle, take a nap, rest, or have quiet time, etc.

Remember, make it FUN! Get into it!!
Draw 'Smiley Faces' on your feet! Be creative!!!

Fun Rewards For Beating The Crabbies

The whole CrabbieMaster idea is to help create positive habits.
It is not always easy to change our ways or break bad habits.

Therefore, it is very important to make this as
FUN and rewarding as possible!

Simple prizes, silly actions, and just plain attention usually do the trick.

For particularly strong-willed children, or habits that are hard to break, there is nothing wrong with sweetening the pot. Do what it takes. The end results are well worth it!

This is especially true in the beginning. This way success with learning to BEAT The Crabbies will be obvious… and FUN!

It is also a good idea to set yourself up with mini-rewards. Some children get excited to get stickers on the charts, but it won’t hurt to be prepared with additional treats or activities. Most of all, children love praise and special attention – so don’t hold back!

For the prize or reward for mastering a Crabbie check out your local “dollar store” for something tangible, but inexpensive. Or check out our own little store…and if that works for you…THANKS!!

You can also try field trip celebrations to McDonalds or Dairy Queen, renting a video, etc. Have FUN coming up with new ideas. Ask the new CrabbieMaster what he or she wants!!

Here are some suggested rewards:

Too-Tired: A little bear, because Too-Tired holds one.

Hungry: A child sized plate.

Junk-Food: A cup to remind them to drink milk.

Achey: Special soap or dispenser.

Can’t-Do: Ribbons to reward them for mastering skills like counting, letters, tying their shoes, or doing a puzzle.

Get-Along: Two identical prizes so ONE can be given to a friend or brother or sister. Sharing is perfect for Get-Along.

Hurry-Up: A timer, a candy watch, or even an inexpensive real watch!

The KING: Beating The KING involves “Stealing His Crown” so they really love getting almost any kind of crown to wear! Getting swords or wands are a great addition too!

Remember, the prizes do not have to be related to The Crabbies.
Just do whatever pushes their buttons.