We started a new system this summer. Actually it's one my parents used for me as a child and I remember loving it and so we gave it a go. I wanted an organized summer, lots of fun, but organization!
So we started the "Bean System" It sounds kinda lame and not exciting at all but it works for our kids because they are instantly rewarded for getting things done. Here's how it works:
I compiled a list of about 50 chores of things I wanted the kids to do around the house. They range from wiping down base boards, to organizing dresser drawers all the way to mowing the lawn.
I wrote all the chores down on individual strips of cardstock with a detailed explanation of the chore if needed and I gave them a "bean" value of either 2,3 or4 beans. I put the strip of paper with the beans they are worth in baggies and put them all in a jar.
When it is chore time the kids get to go pick their chore. THEY decide how many beans they want to earn by picking easy, medium or hard chores. After the chore is done, they come tell me and I check it off (make sure they did it). When it's checked and ok'ed they get the beans they earned out of the baggie and it goes right into their bean jar.
The kids keep a tally of how many beans they have and when they have enough they get to pick a reward from the reward chart.
Each reward group has two options they can pick, for example when they have saved 40 beans they can either have breakfast in bed or a large soda from Burger King. (My kids don't ever really get soda so this is huge to them)
This system is working like a charm in our family! The kids are excited to do chores and try to do as many as they can in the hour they are allowed to do chores.
We also started a slew of other new systems in our house, and to be honest I wasn't sure if they would go over well but it has turned out to be the best thing I've ever put into action!
We have a new weekly schedule.
Every day has a theme. Granted, we have a lot going on this summer and sometimes we don't stick to this chart because we are out of town or have guests. This has been fun for us to get creative at our house and try new things. Love it.
We have a new daily schedule.
As I was making this....I did realize that I was coming across as a crazy schedule lady but after doing this for even a week I was so happy we tried it. Life happens but if we don't have other plans that day we try to keep to this schedule. We did have to
tweak it a bit as you can see. I found that because of this the kids play outside so much more and are reading instead of watching TV.
We have a new reading system.
The kids have a set 30 min a day to read but can also choose to read at other times in the day. They have a goal of a certain amount of books to read by the end of August and if they meet that goal we get to go to the Redding waterslides.
After each book they read they do a book report on them. I was hand writing a book report form out for them with their name, book title, Summary of book, favorite part, how many pages, ect. but then I was at Target and found a reading book log that had all that in it and more!
I posted this because I wanted to remember it for next year and because it has helped our family work together smoothly. They kids stay motivated and things get done!
