Last year while on bedrest....to avoid more chaos and to keep a sense of organization and responsibility, I bought a chore system for the computer called 'the reward board.' It worked GREAT...it was motivating, inspiring, fun, visual, and exciting. I love that it helped the kids to focus on behaviors they felt they needed extra work on as well as make decisions and personal goals. I would input all their duties, then print a weekly chart out to give them a visual to mark off daily. The only problem was that the kids didn't update and check off their chores often enough on the computer, and then the reward board couldn't add their points up and thus, they couldn't choose their rewards. If they fell behind in marking them off on the program, it was a huge task to input so much at once. Technology can be a pain sometimes.
The 'idea' was fabulous and it worked for a time. So, I've taken that idea, and searched the net for others and came up with a system that I think will work for our family. Funny enough, once I had it written down on paper it's really almost identical to what I did when we lived in Utah...just a little more fancy and detailed. Here's what we came up with just in time for back to school:
~*~I picked up the magnet board at Costco for $22 last week.
~*~I bought 1/8" crepe art tape to make my lines and divide the board into sections at Office Depot.
~*~I made each of the tags in photoshop, laminated, then attached neo magnets (which I ordered from the link) to the back of each one. The little girls have basic pictures of their tasks to help them know what they need to do.
~*~The magnetic-backed tins came from ikea--the grundtal collection. I'm working on punching holes in the side, so that as they sit on the board, the hole is on top.
How it works:
*They each have two major household chores. We used to rotate these every week, but this summer we changed it to a month-at-a-time. It's worked really well, so we rotate the two major chores every month. (Viviana's job is to look cute right now...we're working on that change-your-own-diaper thing. kidding
*All have 
they need to fulfill daily and 
they need to work on.
*For each one successfully completed daily, they put a button (point) in their container (thus, the hole I'm working on drilling in each one).
*Certain behaviors earn extra points ('I'm Awesome') and other behaviors & actions deduct from their earnings ('oopsies!').
*They can 'cash in' for rewards ('jackpot!') that have point values. Of course we can add to/take away from the reward-type as needed.
Obviously this is very visual & tactile. Lexie & Izzie's have little pictures next to their tasks so they can figure out what they need to do each day. I mounted it in their new computer/homework command station (which I'll post about later this week) so they see it all the time and have constant reminders of their tasks & behaviors:
My hope is that they'll be more motivated and they'll just be better and that I'll have self-starters, rather than me being #1 Momma Nag. Each of them have something they're working towards that they chose. I'm sure we'll change things up as we go to make them more independent workers and well-behaved members of this crazy clan. I really don't like nagging and I despise whining...and I'm always looking for ways to function with such a large family without- well...going bonkers everyday!
10 comments:
Looks great. I love the SP product you used. We've got to revamp ours with school starting tomorrow. Guess what FHE is going to be about? :)
Holy cow (you can really tell I'm from Utah when I say that, can't ya?) That is seriously impressive! I need to use this inspiration to do something of the sort with my little munchkins. Thanks for the great ideas!
You need to market these!
I made something like this when you and your brothers were little. Remember the little pouches I sewed in a row with each of your names on them? You'd get little coupons in your pouch for jobs well done. (well not as creative). Your reward was candy, from your dad. Hey - whatever works!
I heard a great idea on Dr. Laura today. Every Friday night was their "dessert" night. After dinner on every Friday night, after family dinner and during dessert they would each tell each person at the table something that they noticed that was positive about them. They did this even when they had company. She said that it was wonderful because all week they were watching for that something special they would share.
I'd like to order one of those for the future! Yikes, you're good! Have you thought about professionally organinizing and cutesing things up? I'm sure you have, silly me!
Just as I was coming to the computer today, THIS is the subject on my mind...you were inspired to post this for me! OK, we need to talk, you need to get me copies...I need to mooch off you...again. :)
And I totally agree with your mom - you should market them. I'd pay you!
I'd have to charge $$$ a lot to market these unless they were made in the backroom of some chinese sweatshop:) Took for-stinkin-ever! But now the photoshop stuff is done, maybe it wouldn't be so difficult:)
You amaze me! This is awesome!! I feel better knowing that you do all this but get less sleep than I do! :)
Love the idea, and I am thinking of using a cookie sheet for the background. I saw these cute cookie sheet magnet boards. Tell me what you think. they are at roomsomewhere.blogspot.com , lot 39.
A great idea and so cute too! When will you start selling them???? :-)
So cute, and a great way to stay on top of everything with six kids! I like that you can let the board keep track of the jobs--I can see how that would definitely decrease the nagging!
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