An Idea... or two.

I needed  a new one...

Something to keep my kids motivated to use manners, and play outside... to not watch so much television and beg to play on the computer

and then...

I stumbled on this:

V and Co. Idea

Here is my spin on it:

Token can be earned, spent, and lost.  How?

How to earn tokens:

1 shoes put away

1 coats hung up

1 back pack, lunch pack, papers put away

1 dishes cleared after meals without asking

1 folder brought home

1 hairbows put away, or not lost at the end of the day

1 using a napkin at the dinner table

1 using your manner words

1 (isaac) telling us that you need a diaper change

1 cleaning up your crumbs after snacks

1 staying at the table to eat your snacks

1 listening the first time

1 setting your clothes out for the next day

1 following instructions

1 being kind to your siblings

1 washing your hands after you eat

1 bringing in belongings from the car

1 if mom or dad don’t clean up after ourselves and you catch it and have to do it for us

1 mom or dad speaking unkindly to you when it is not an appropriate thing to get upset about

2 listening and sitting reverently during fhe

2 (stella) taking your dance bag to dance

2 homework done before play time

2 eating all of your food without complaining

3 being reverent during sacrament meeting

3 morning routine done without asking

3 evening routine done without asking

3 extra jobs without complaining

3 good behavior at a store

5 ½ hour playtime outside

5 ½ hour art project

5 ½ hour reading

5 ½ hour quiet time

5 100% spelling test

5 a good report from school

15 (jex) finishing a chapter book

How to Lose Tokens:

1 leave your shoes out

1 socks on the floor

1 coat laying on the floor

1 pajamas not put away

1 clothes laying on the floor

1 making messes at the dinner table

1 arguing

1 wiping your fingers on furniture

1 bothering parents while on the phone

1 not listening

1 not clearing your plate

1 leaving belongings in the car

1 fighting with your sibling

1 anything left laying around that I have to pick up

2 not bringing your folder home from school

2 losing a hair bow

2 tattling

2 getting in to things that you are not supposed to

3 complaining or gagging at the dinner table

3 poor behavior at church

3 poor behavior at a store

10 if I have to clean up your room or playroom at the end of the day

How to spend tokens:

1 package of fruit snacks

2 cookie, or treat(bedtime snacks will be given on special occasions)

2 ½ educational computer time (approved by parent)

2 ½ hour educational television program (approved by parent)

3 popcorn

3 extra story at bedtime(must be paid by all listeners)

5 ½ hour computer time, television, or a full movie

(family movies are free, but designated by parents)

5 extra 15 minutes at bedtime

100 $10 to spend on something you would like

Disclaimers:

Fruit and yogurt and crackers do not cost anything

Mom and dad have the right to add to this list at anytime

Tokens can be handed out randomly for special things and good behavior

You must ask mom and dad before putting tokens in your jar.

This list hangs on our laundry room door.  We can refer to it at anytime.

Isaac carried around this little container of tokens all day. He even made his own bed to earn tokens.  He told me tonight, "I give you tokens, and watch a "OOBIE?"(that's a movie.)  By Golly I think he is getting it.

I bought 3 hundred poker chips for their tokens, and these easy non-breakable containers.

It has already helped with the nagging in our home.

Need one more idea?

Here is another idea that we continue to do:

Super Kid (the idea came from here)

Here is my poster to remind me whose turn it is.

It hangs on the fridge and I change it out each week.  Their name is attached with a magnet.

Just tonight, I was trying to decided what easy microwaveable "mom of the year" meal to make the kids; chicken nuggets or corn dogs.

Stella wanted nuggets

Isaac and Jex wanted corn dogs. 

I was only making one thing, because each of these are so time consuming.  he he  

Isaac is super kid so corn dogs won.  It really does settle a lot of battles.

Thanks Michelle for this great idea, and Vanessa for helping me be less of a nag.