Project Alicia

Monday, November 09, 2009

DAY 313


“Action and reaction, ebb and flow, trial and error, change - this is the rhythm of living..." Bruce Barton

So, it was time to change things up a bit. As a mother it seems I am always trying to think up new ways to make life easier and to make less conflict and more results. Ever since we added additional household responsibilites this summer there seems to be more and more whining. Several times now I've let dishes set for days or forced myself to tip toe around a dirty kitchen floor to allow the children the opportunity to complete the task. Many times though I've just given in and cleaned myself; I just couldn't take it. So, even though they don't get allowance for these "household duties" as we've called them, they do get an allowance for a few other things that involve their rooms and their own space. So, I told them that to be eligible for that allowance they had to complete their other household duties first. It worked for a while, but soon they started to slip and didn't much care. Frustration set in and that's when I saw this chalkboard at Target 75% off. They both seem to thrive on positive incentives, so I've devised a new plan. This is our 3rd week now and it seems to be going better.

They each have their own responsibilites every week (that alternate) and then there are those that are the same for both of them; hence the photo of both of them. I bought colored chalk thinking they could each have their own color, but the chalk doesn't show up on the board, so I decided to draw a line down the middle so they could each have their own space; Little Man to the left and Pokey to the right. It seems to be working. If they do any of the tasks they get to make a check and for every check they earn a ticket. (Very cheap at Wal-Mart.) Last week Little Man earned 13 tickets and Pokey earned 15 tickets. The children participated in making this list of incentives. They can cash them in at any time or keep them for the larger ticket items/activities. I'm not sure they can hold out that long, but the potential is there for them to be earning about 25+ tickets/week.

25 tickets
$1 store
redbox movie
game night with mom and dad

50 tickets
$5 toy
movie night at theater
ice cream
bike ride with mom or dad

75 tickets
restaurant of choice
boat ride or fishing with dad
1 day pass from pictures

100 tickets
$10 toy
date night with mom and dad
ride a horse

250 tickets
planet x
DS game
chuck e cheese

500 tickets
train ride

I'm hoping this plan works for a while, but only time will tell. I've placed it in the kitchen right by where they eat with the hope that it will serve as a constant reminder. I'll keep ya posted.


  1. Love this idea. I'm going to have to give this a go at my house. Happy belated anniverary by the way C: I'm so behind on my blogging! Love the picture of Connor in the tree by the way.

  2. What a great idea! I'm always looking for ideas to motivate my kids. I may have to borrow some of this. Why is it so hard?