I can’t believe how fast this summer is already flying by. We’ve been keeping ourselves busy with lots of fun things close to home these days. Swimming at the pool (a lot!), picnics at the park, a hotdog roast with friends, visiting the grandparents, walks, bike rides, and the occasional popsicle. While I’ve pretty much given up on our regular routine I’ve still tried to keep some sense of order around here.
And so we have our ‘JOB JARS’
Not the most creative name perhaps but they’re working for us and so I thought I’d tell you a little bit about them.
This little system we have going we’ve been using for quite a while now but I’ve added a few fun things for summer. While searching online for job chart ideas and ideas for keeping kids motivated to actually do said jobs I came accross a couple of different ideas that I melded together.
The original sources of my ideas were this system from Simple Mom and this chart idea from Martha Stewart.
Here’s what our little system has turned into. Our job charts are a little worse for wear these days but its definately a sign that they’ve been put to good use:
The kids are responible for doing their jobs in the morning & they typically have to be done before they can play with friends or before we head out for the day. There are daily jobs as well as weekly jobs (I created different color magnets for the weekly ones) Some of the jobs include:
get the dog food & fresh water
make bed
brush teeth & hair
get dressed & put PJ’s away
clear my own dishes
before bed set out clothes for tommorow
Instead of stickers the kids get a ‘JEM’ for each job they do on their chart. For summer I’ve made a list of extra jobs the kids can do that are worth more ‘JEMS’ and they get to pick one each day. Things like:
play with and keep Addie busy for 20 minutes
clean your room
fill up a bucket of weeds from the garden
read one book to mom (for Emily)
bring in the garbage cans
set the table
I am also on the look out for good behavior like sitting at the table during dinner, being kind to siblings, sharing, etc. and the kids can earn bonus ‘JEMS’ when I notice these things. There are plenty of opportunities for positive reinforcement and to earn ‘JEMS’ doing things that are appropriate to Carson (4 years) and Emily’s (soon to be 7) age levels.
When it comes the kids wanting to play on the computer, watch a tv show, have a friend over, go out for a special treat, etc. these cost a certain amount of ‘JEMS’ and they can trade them in for these fun things. It’s made the kids really think twice about what things they want to spend their ‘JEMS’ on. When it come to a computer game vs. a friend over they usually choose the latter and I’m so happy with that. Also for summer I’ve put together a little bucket filled with goodies (treats, dollar store toys, outdoor games) that on fridays the kids can spend their ‘JEMS’ on and its been a huge hit.
It’s been working for us and its helped make the summer a little less chaotic. The kids have really shown me how much help they can be and I’m so proud of them!
There’s lots of other great ideas out there when it comes to job systems, be sure and check these out too:
more chore chart ideas
great ideas
more ideas!
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Rebecca – I LOVE your chore ideas!! I am definitely going to start using your same technique!! BTW – Hope you are feeling well!!!
Great ideas Rebecca!
Thanks for the tips!
Sounds like neat ideas…. kudos to you for keeping up with it too. I also had a chore chart once upon a time, but it didn’t get too far. Although, I did get all my Barbies out which were still from when I was a young girl and my girls are busy ‘earning’ them. So far that is going really well. I have an almost 6 yr old and 4.5 yr old, so they are totally enthralled with all these Barbies that Mommy played with… like a hundred years ago!!! {actually it’s more like 20!}
great idea – though I would probably be the one that would be guilty of not keeping up with it! Love that it is cute as well as practical too! 😉
LOVE this!! thanks for sharing.
What a great idea! I’d love to try it when my Jillian gets a little older (she’s not quite 2). Plus, those jars of gems look really cute. Thanks for the great ideas!
Whitney
Oops, I forgot to link to my job charts. 🙂
http://www.brookie-wookie.blogspot.com/search?q=job+chart
Great ideas, Rebecca! I love the creativity of the jobs and the rewards are so precious and definitely something your children will cherish for years to come.
Rebecca could you please post these photos of your job charts again? i went back to check out your ideas again and i got a photobucket error message! thank you for all of your wonderful ideas!