Frankly, since I recently just quit my full time job (um, that is QUITE another blog, for another time), I don't have the budget to run my kids around town exploring $300 camps and all of that other fun stuff everyone else does every week, all summer. They get ONE. One. Camp. Other than that, we will do chores. And Read. LOL.
So, last week, I decided to try out this system. To my knowledge, it is an Amanda original, but in all fairness, who knows if this is something I remember subconsciously from Pinterest. If that is the case, credit where credit is due. But again, I think it's all my genius....
Materials:
Colored popsicle sticks from Hobby Lobby (I chose fat ones)
Adhesive Magnetic strips
One magnetic pen cup
Label Maker
Black sharpie
Action:
First, I made a list of all the things that bug me when my kids DON'T do them. Then I added a couple things I thought might build character, or grow their little minds. Next up is labeling the sticks. I decided to kind of categorize them by color- red for chores that should definitely be done daily and are deal breakers for me if not done. Teal for mind growing activities, green for pet responsibilities, yellow for chores that must be done but are no fun. Really it's up to you what goes on here, and what colors you use. Technically, you could mix them up. I then labeled the sticks. I ended up with 10 per kid. I did the same set of sticks for each kid. You could also change this up if certain kids have certain chores. I then attached the magnetic strips. I bought a packet of 12 strips, but cut them in half to make them go farther. I also made a FUN TIME stick.
Next up, I labeled the pen cup with "Rewards" and "Chores". The idea being, if one kid has a great day, they get to pull a reward stick, and if they need a consequence (or complain of being bored), they pull a chore stick. This is similar to the jars I did last summer. I then started labeling these sticks. I used purple for reward, yellow for chore- but again, up to you. Ideas of rewards I used were- Dollar store pick, Get Ice Cream, Homemade treat (let them help make), Make Dinner (um, this is an actual reward in my house, strange, I know), RedBox choice, special outing, cash bonus. Chores are heinous things I really hate doing but know they can handle. This pretty much includes any household chore. HA!
I lined each kid's sticks up on the fridge in a stack, and put Make Bed and Clean Sink at the top and FUN TIME at the bottom.
At this point, the bright rainbow colors going up on the fridge were starting to attract a crowd of curious onlookers- which is exactly what I'd hoped for. C wanted to know when we get to start. M, on the other hand is wise to this summer game and was eyeing it skeptically. I explained that each day, they would need to complete the chore sticks to earn the free FUN TIME. They can complete the sticks in any order they like- (except Make Bed and Clean Sink), but they all must be complete before they can have tv or game time. They can also take as long as they want in one day to complete them, but there is no fun time stick until they're done. Once a chore is finished, it goes to the bottom of the stack, slowly moving fun time up.
Surprising outcomes of this:
1. C woke up the next morning and immediately made his bed for maybe the 3rd time in his life- (note, system was not yet in place as it was not summer yet).
2. C asked daily when it would start.
3. When reviewing the Thoughtful Deed stick, C could not think of anything, so asked for an extra chore stick. Um, yes, you may.... he cleaned my toilets (and washed his hands). No judging.
4. By 11 am, his chore chart looked like this.
Plus, we had spent some quality time practicing piano together- beyond the original time required. He earned the Redbox stick because he finished all his chores in a timely manner.
So, all in all, I'm pretty excited about this one. M is at camp, so it remains to be seen how a middle schooler will respond. But I will say that pulling from the bored jar last summer worked SO WELL that I never once heard "I'm bored". In retrospect, I'm considering adding a quiet time stick- or read a Bible Verse stick.
So there you go- a productive day by 11am, and C suggested that I make chore sticks for myself. He's probably right. I should.
What inexpensive rewards do you have for your kids? DO you like this system? What would you change?
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