Lots of the plans I have come up with work like a champ . . . for a little while, then I guess we out grow them.
Our topic lately . . .CHORES!!!!
We have had a lot of chore systems through the years. When the kids were really little we would set the timer and Terry and I would go with them and do a "Clean Sweep" every night the house got straighten up this way, then racing the clock lost its power,
So we moved to this system . . .
It worked AWESOME for a year . . . but now, it's losing it's power.
It is really hard to have payday every night, but payday every night is why the system worked so well in the first place, and it gave the kids a chance to return and report AND with their teeny, tiny attention spans only having to focus on one day at a time was perfect, but we've out grown it I guess.
Our new system comes from this book (with some Daivs tweaks) . . .
It is AWESOME, you should read it!!!!They have responsibilities that they have to do because they are part of team family and somethings just need to be done . . .like, keeping your room clean, dinner clean up, bathrooms, vacuuming, dusting, and laundry, and they don't get paid for these, they get "points" . . .
We have had a "points" system in place for the kids for a long time. Terry and I give them points randomly when we catch them being kind or doing something with out having to be asked, or only having to be asked once, or just to motivate the others, there is magic powers in yelling "Janie go take a point, that was awesome!" All of the sudden everyone is on excellent behavior!
When they reach 6 points they get a "stay up night" with mom and dad and if they get all the way to a 7 they get a "stay up night" PLUS a treat.
In the new system points will be awarded for days they complete all their responsibilities, without having to be nagged.
When they reach 6 points they get a stay up night, if they want to save it and get to a 7 then they can choose a stay up night with a treat or having a friend over one afternoon. They are still motivated to get their stuff done during the day (without nagging) because at night we ask who gets a point that day, and they for sure want to be one of them.
Each kids has assignments appropriate for their age . . .(I still use our chart for a quick reference for the kids to see what they are in charge of)
Dalyn- straightens his room, gets dressed, brush teeth and comb hair, complete all his homework, practice his piano, clean the bathroom floors and do after bath clean up every night and on Saturdays he is in charge of ridding the yard of all the dog poo.
Raegan has her room, dressed, teeth, hair, feed and water the animals, homework, piano, wipe down both bathrooms (sinks, toilet, tub) and on Saturdays she is in charge of the toy room.
Ryan-room, dressed, teeth, hair, homework, pick up and vacuum the front room, and on Saturday he sweeps the back patio, or straightens the front coat closet.
Janie-dressed, teeth, hair (with help from mom), room, homework (she practices writing her name), and cleaning the front of the fridge, stove and dishwasher with windex on Saturday I wet a Mr. Clean magic erase and she cleans all the door frames down the hall, three feet and lower :).
Dinner clean up rotates every night (I have a dinner clean up square for the chart that we move every night), if they hastle me when it's their night, they get to keep it for the next night too :)
Payday is now only once a month. The first Monday each month for Family Night we do payday. They get paid a dollar per year. We do tithing that night and their savings jars and the rest goes into their spending bags.
We have had a "points" system in place for the kids for a long time. Terry and I give them points randomly when we catch them being kind or doing something with out having to be asked, or only having to be asked once, or just to motivate the others, there is magic powers in yelling "Janie go take a point, that was awesome!" All of the sudden everyone is on excellent behavior!
When they reach 6 points they get a "stay up night" with mom and dad and if they get all the way to a 7 they get a "stay up night" PLUS a treat.
In the new system points will be awarded for days they complete all their responsibilities, without having to be nagged.
When they reach 6 points they get a stay up night, if they want to save it and get to a 7 then they can choose a stay up night with a treat or having a friend over one afternoon. They are still motivated to get their stuff done during the day (without nagging) because at night we ask who gets a point that day, and they for sure want to be one of them.
Each kids has assignments appropriate for their age . . .(I still use our chart for a quick reference for the kids to see what they are in charge of)
Dalyn- straightens his room, gets dressed, brush teeth and comb hair, complete all his homework, practice his piano, clean the bathroom floors and do after bath clean up every night and on Saturdays he is in charge of ridding the yard of all the dog poo.
Raegan has her room, dressed, teeth, hair, feed and water the animals, homework, piano, wipe down both bathrooms (sinks, toilet, tub) and on Saturdays she is in charge of the toy room.
Ryan-room, dressed, teeth, hair, homework, pick up and vacuum the front room, and on Saturday he sweeps the back patio, or straightens the front coat closet.
Janie-dressed, teeth, hair (with help from mom), room, homework (she practices writing her name), and cleaning the front of the fridge, stove and dishwasher with windex on Saturday I wet a Mr. Clean magic erase and she cleans all the door frames down the hall, three feet and lower :).
Dinner clean up rotates every night (I have a dinner clean up square for the chart that we move every night), if they hastle me when it's their night, they get to keep it for the next night too :)
Payday is now only once a month. The first Monday each month for Family Night we do payday. They get paid a dollar per year. We do tithing that night and their savings jars and the rest goes into their spending bags.
There really isn't much little kids need money for, but we wanted them to have responsibilities with their money so they are careful not to just blow it. We told them they will be in charge of all friends birthday parties from here on out, if they want to buy something from the student store they use their money, and any extras they want. Terry and I still pay for all school field trips, supplies, clothing, and sports, that will change too . . . you will have to read the book . . . but they only get paid once a month so it does require some planning. If they are in need of extra money before payday again we have "money jobs" like organizing a closet or drawers or book shelf, washing or vacuuming the car, cleaning window seals, vacuuming all the edges of a room . . .
So far it is working awesome (for the whole two months we've been doing it)! Terry and I only have to deal with payday and tithing and savings jars once a month and now they get a pretty fair sum of cash once a month so the dumb dollar store items they used to think were so cool are now a thing of the past (kind of) because when you all of the sudden get $7.00 you can get something a little more substantial, or that thing they want so bad that is $10.00 actually seems attainable.
I know this system will not last forever but I think it may last longer then the others we have tried in the past. And when it dies I'm sure I'll have another plan that can follow right in it's foot steps.
But for now here is what is working at our house:)
So far it is working awesome (for the whole two months we've been doing it)! Terry and I only have to deal with payday and tithing and savings jars once a month and now they get a pretty fair sum of cash once a month so the dumb dollar store items they used to think were so cool are now a thing of the past (kind of) because when you all of the sudden get $7.00 you can get something a little more substantial, or that thing they want so bad that is $10.00 actually seems attainable.
I know this system will not last forever but I think it may last longer then the others we have tried in the past. And when it dies I'm sure I'll have another plan that can follow right in it's foot steps.
But for now here is what is working at our house:)
3 comments:
ditto on the book, it is one of my fav.'s, isn't she the best author!!!
um, yeah..I think your plan is better. Good luck! When my plans stops working in about 2 weeks, I 'll call you:)
You said $1.00 per year. I know you didn't mean to put that...because that certainly wouldn't add up to getting $7.00 a month! I kinda like our system right now, but I might want to change HOW much because I think it's TOO much...so how much is it really that they end up getting?
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