Finding routine in our chaos-The Chore Chart and Chore Store

  My kids are still relatively young, well ok, they are still very young.  At four, three and 13 months the world around us doesn't expect too terribly much from them.  But as their loving and slightly controlling Momma-I do.  I am in the group of people who believe that we get a few short years early in their lives to 'train' them.  From there, their little characters are in motion. Of course they continue learning, but the basic foundation will have been put in place.  I feel that basic manners, respect, and self control are huge!  Another biggie is responsibility.  I am a firm believer that kids, even young ones, need to be given a chance to be responsible.  So often in our over-compensating, and unbalanced society everything is done for kids, and no emphasis is put on them actually learning to do things for themselves, which in turn, takes away the chance for them to experience the amazing feeling of accomplishment and pride in a job well done.

  Over the past few months I've been working with my littles on these very things.  ( Except for Woo, she's still a wee bit too small for a lot-BUT she is already learning from the example of her older siblings!-yay!)  We've tried both positive reinforcement such as, 'If you get such and such done, we'll go do something or another'.  And also the negative reinforcement, such as 'If you don't get such and such done, we will NOT be doing something or another'.  Well, to be honest it was getting tedious and tiring and didn't seem to be working
 very well.  I felt like I was bribing or threatening, neither of which I like.  I realized, that like me, my kids need visual stimulation to learn things-eve character building things.  Enter into the scene 'The Chore Chart'!
  I did a little research, found some cute ideas on Pinterest and in a few stores, but I wanted something that was specified for my kids at their level of learning.  Homework and taking out the garbage don't quite apply just yet.......although the thought of my Cub and Bug trying to lug our big metal garbage can to curb is really quite amusing!!  And knowing them, they would figure out a way to do it, maybe I should let them try!
     Anyway, sorry I get easily distracted!
Ok, so being my crafty, over-complicating type self I decided to make my own-or their own-Chore Chart.  As I did, the rest of the pieces of the plan fell into place.
  Knowing their age and their limitations, I didn't want it to be too complicated or too tedious, they would lose interest.  I picked a few tasks that I know we do-or should do-everyday, and knew that they could accomplish own their own.

  I made the chart as colorful and fun looking as I could-gotta make it like a game right?  The chores I chose for them turned out to be: get dressed, put jammies away(in the clothes hamper), make your bed, brush your teeth, quiet/book time, and put toys away.  I wanted to make it in way that they would get to check off their own tasks.  Stickers were out-I have peeled off far too many misplaced stickers from furniture, windows, my own skin.  And markers-well that was a no-brainer!  So clothespins were the natural, no-mess choice.  I put their first initial on their pins so they each had their own set.  When they complete a task they put a pin next to the picture of that task-easy!  The happy face and winking star are for extra good behavior.  The happy face is for sharing, being courteous or basic good manners without being asked.  The star is for EXTRA good behavior, doing things before they are asked, things of that nature.  I am the one that gets to put those pins on though, otherwise they would always being giving themselves extra pins! 
   So, just what keeps them motivated to do these chores??  The 'Chore Store'!!  And what kind of currency does the Chore Store accept??  'Kid Cash'!!

'Momma's Money'-safely stashed on top of the fridge!  It sure would be nice to find some real money in there once in a while!  *hint hint* to the Hubby!  ;-)

 

  We have denominations of 1's and 5's.  Each task earns them one kid buck.  Their first four tasks they can earn right away during the morning.  All of a sudden they have instant gratification and I have a few bargaining chips...or bucks.  Throughout the day they are given opportunity to earn more kid cash, but also are in danger of having to pay-literally.  Bad behavior, disobedience, whining, yelling, you know- those types of things, and they have to pay me a buck or two.  In a way its still the positive and negative reinforcement, but in a tangible and visual way.  They LOVE earning bucks, but hate having to pay!
  Once a week we have the 'Chore Store', something they have learned to look forward to all week long.  Sunday night they get to bring their stash(which is collected in an envelope taped to the fridge) to the chore store and make some 'purchases'.

The 'Chore Store'.  Edible/sugary items have a higher 'cost' than others-they have to REALLY want them!

  Most items have prices ranging from $3-$15.  Some things, like a McDonald's date is more around $25.  This is also helping them learn to prioritize what they want, and then also saving up, for more desirable items!  So far it's working great!
   I'm also learning about my kids' personalities through this.  When it's time to 'buy', Cub really takes his time, weighing out the possibilities and figuring out how to get the most for his bucks.  Bug on the other hand, steps right up and makes a very swift choice, never looking twice or looking back-she knows what she wants and doesn't waiver!  It's been a small peek into their personality types and I think the Hubby and I look forward to the weekly chore store as much as the kids do, just to watch!

Bug making her selection.

Cub, weighing out his options.

  It's been a few weeks and so far we're still going strong!  I've upped the ante a bit for the first couple of chores-if they can have them completed before I get out of bed in the morning-they earn double!  This gives me a few extra minutes knowing that they aren't getting in trouble-veeeeeerrrry nice!
  Oh, and one last thing-right before they get into bed, they brush their teeth and replace all their pins on the bottom of the chart so that it's cleared and ready for the new day!  So fabulous!
    I'm pretty proud of the munchkins, and of myself for keeping up on the routine.  The next order of business is a calendar so they can see how may days until the chore store.....everyday it's become a countdown, a calendar would be helpful for my sanity!