Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Chore Buckets



I decided to make these buckets to use for the kids chores.
I was going to use marbles but my kids are better at
doing the chores if they can SEE the $$.
(My kids LOVE $$, I am in SERIOUS trouble)
Now I have to decide how this is going to work.
What are chores worth these days anyway?

I was thinking that I would give them 1 quarter
per chore and then If they did something
W/OUT being asked I would give them another
quarter. Or should I make it 2 q's for doing things
w/out being asked? Todd thinks I shouldn't have to
pay them to do their chores! My plan is to have a
bigger jar already filled with about $60.00 worth of q's
(thats about what it costs us to go to a movie or bowling)
then when the big jar is emptied into their
jars we would use the money to go to a movie, bowling,
swimming, or anything else we can do as a FAMILY!

I want them to understand that we all live in this
house together and that by working together we
become a happier family!

Someone PLEASE tell me this is going to WORK!!
P.S if you have any other suggestions on how
to make this work better let me know!!!

12 comments:

Peggy said...

Sounds like a good idea to me! I just might have to copy you. I think it is a good idea because I don't believe in giving kids allowances. I think that they should learn that you have to work for money, that it isn't just handed out to you in real life.

I can tell which can is Sam's! Cute.

Wildingkids said...

The boys wouldn't let me put ribbon all over the handle of theirs!

I just don't understand it! :)

melissa said...

Don't ask me, one of my kids still poops his drawers!

If it were me, I would only give money for "extra" chores. I wouldn't pay them for those things they should be doing anyway, like making their beds, cleaning up their rooms, etc.

But if they want to scrub the toilet, I'd pay up.

Just my thoughts. Cute, cute jars.

Wildingkids said...

I hear ya. I actually wasn't going to pay for making their beds or putting their clothes away. Its the other stuff like loading and unloading the dishwasher, all garbages not just one, vacuuming, cleaning the bathroom, and sweeping. What do you think?

Unknown said...

I like the jars, you did a great job! And what kid wouldn't work for money!

trishcook said...

What adorable jars!! And I really like the idea of earning money towards a FAMILY activity. You'll have to keep me posted on how it works...someday I'm sure I'll be in your shoes!! Love ya tons!

Unknown said...

I think the idea is great, especially using the money for a family activity and not just for them to have. I think the biggest thing for my kids is following through on the consequence of not having their chores done (room clean, clothes put away, unload dishwasher and take out garbage). It is very hard when we want to go to the movies and I ask them to get their rooms done before we go. I use to give in even if they did not clean and say ok but when we get home you are getting it done. Well...that didn't work. After a few missed family activities they are determined to have their work done. And better they are learning to keep it clean becuase it is easier to clean when they pick up after themselves everyday. (They came up with that one on their own.) In addition, I don't yell (much) anymore to encourage them to get their work done. The biggest thing is be consistent and follow through. If they don't have their jars full does that mean they don't get to go??? I also had to teach my kids that if they didn't do their work, I don't have to be punished. Those that have earned the activity and myself go and leave the others at home. Good luck and things will get better. How do you have the time to make such awesome jars??? You could sell those at craft fairs!!

DeAnna said...

I think I'd use nickels, but since you've already started with quarters I think you're probably stuck with them. You have to be consistent(I am particularly bad at this trait), and that my dear will be the challange. It will go well for 2 maybe 3 days, and then they will test you. After things are set up and running as smoothly as possible, I would start taking quarters away for the chores that you do for them. For instance, you tell Austin to empty the dishwasher, and he doesn't , so when you finally determine that he has had enough time to get it done, you tell him that he can do it or he can pay you to do it. I might also give them the quarter in nickels and dimes and when they complain you take a nickel away.
Also, they need to feel like they are missing out. No playing with friends on Saturday until everything is done. Work should always be done before fun. Once, I had a friend call and ask if Carter and Kai could go with them to the zoo (I knew they didn't have their stuff done, so they really weren't going to the zoo). Since they didn't have their work done they couldn't go, but boy were they upset they couldn't go. Opportunity missed.

Cute jars by the way, where did you get them? I have been looking for something to make into a piggy bank for the boys and I have been unlucky.

Good luck, Wade has told me I cannot start one other discipline/motivation system until I make the twenty I have work;)

Jordyn Eckersley said...

i think the chored you listed above in one of your own comments were a great idea. i dont have kids but i do know what being a kid was like. money is a motivator. and just like grown ups who work for money, kids need to learn that lesson too i think. and i agree, use the money for FAMILY things. i think your plan is great!!! :-)

Hallman Family said...

I actually have been doing that exact thing for about 6 months now and I think it works great! I have an extra jar with about $50 in quarters that get recycled. At the end of the month we count up the quarters and bring them home dollars. I also take quarters out of their bucket if they are Mean, don't do something they are told to do the first time. Have fun and let me know how it goes.

DeAynne said...

Jennie: We have a "family store" that consists of 8 drawers. Each drawer is worth so much $100 and up. We set the price. The kids can earn $10/day in PLAY money. Their chores are bed, teeth, hair, dressed, eat, clear dishes, dogs, dishwasher (either unload or load), homework, reading, RESPECT AND OBEDIENCE. The last two are decided by mom and dad at the end of the day. I too can "take" money. If we are in the store and they are messing around, I just mention, "You owe me a dollar." And they shape up. We have prizes in the drawers ranging from pencils, matchbox cars, bracelets, lip gloss, a date with mom or dad, an air force academy sporting ticket, a movie ticket, choose the meal for dinner, and even an airplane ticket (that one is marked at $1500) But I have an 11 and 9 year old that can't wait to get that and fly to see grandma. Anyway, just what we do. The kids love it. Oh... the kids get to shop on monday nights after family home evening. Trust me they don't let you forget. The other twist that we have added is that they have to have a certain amount in their "bank" at all times. They also have to pay tithing the first Monday of the month. For all that they earned the previous month. I made up my own job charts and can email you a copy if you want. I keep those in the folder and they can see where they have made the money and where they are lacking. Also, if they miss out on the respect or obedience, they can still earn $5/day. They can also earn extra money by doing extra jobs. Such as vacuuming, bathing the dogs, folding socks, cleaning out the fridge. Especially if you don't have to ask. You would have to adjust for your kids. But it has worked wonders. I printed dollar bills, fives, and tens off the internet. (Printable money for teaching.) Hope that this helps. DeAynne

Flowers a Bloom said...

Jenny,

I think your idea is really good
We are also working on setting up a good plan at our house too. I agree I don't want to pay them for the normal stuff they should be doing. We are working on a program my sister Anne found at Deseret Book called Accountable Kids. It is a great program, but really extensive, We are only on the first part of it, you add more as you go. They earn tickets for doing chores and with the tickets they can buy priveleges like TV and playing with friends computer time. The stuff they take for granted. If they misbehave you can take tickets away. Anyway, we are still working on it. It has helped a lot with morning stuff like making beds and putting clothes away brushing teeth and saying there prayers. You can encorporate in extra chores, but we haven't done that part yet. I do however pay them a quarter for every extra chore they help me with on Saturday, like baseboards, collecting garbage, and unloading the dishwasher. Great job coming up with a plan. athat seems to be the hardest part. I think kids are motivated just by having a plan to accomoplish. Way top go!
Sorry for the long reply!