jewel bears

I think I've solved the photo problem (for now).   Sheez.  Onto the next issue.

Coming off of summer and getting back into the school year routine, we've been having some issues with the boys listening and doing the right thing.   Logan always has ongoing issues about complying, being respectful, following the rules and being a good brother.  Dylan is much more compliant in those areas, but he's tired after school and it can take hours to get homework done with all the stalling, whining and dilly dallying.  Logan distracts Dylan from doing his homework and then a fight usually ensues.   Major headache by 5 pm everyday.

This past weekend, we got an idea from our good friends Micce and Maryann, so I told her I was going to steal it.  

It started Sunday morning with a family meeting.  Together, the four of us, came up with the Rules of Our House.  These are rules we all agreed on together to make our house a happy place to be.

I went to the craft store and bought little plastic bear jars...the kind you'd fill up to make sand art.  And plastic jewels.   Making sure all the jewels are the same size and color, so they can't argue over that.

Everytime they follow the rules, help above and beyond what we expect them to do in their normal chores, or do something really nice for us or for each other, they earn a jewel (or two).   Once their bear is full to the top, they earn $5.   We've done away with allowance.  We weren't doing a good job of keeping track of who was doing their chores, and it just seemed like a hand out every Friday. This is a great visual and get them competing with each other to race to the top of their bear.

Its only been a few days but they are both scrambling to earn jewels like crazy.  We're keeping it very positive...never taking jewels away for bad behavior.  If they misbehave, they just can't earn a jewel.  Its a missed opportunity. But once they start following the rules again and doing the right things, the chance to earn jewels returns.