Ice Cream Baby

A while back, we were having problems with Taylor eating her lunch at daycare. For whatever reason, she just refused to eat. When we found out about this, we were shocked because at home, she ate everything!  We talked to her each day and asked what she ate. She always answered either, "nothing," or, "bread."  Our babysitter said that it had started to become somewhat of a game to Taylor. All of the other kids would ask her immediately when they sat down for lunch, "Are you going to eat today, Taylor?"  The babysitter said that it always seemed like Taylor wanted to eat, but she wouldn't.  I started to really get concerned.  We tried praising her when she did eat. We tried not making a big deal about it when she didn't eat. We tried having the babysitter tell the kids not to say anything about it.  Nothing worked.

One day, Taylor spotted a baby at Target that she really wanted!  This baby's tongue would come out and actually lick her ice cream cone!  Taylor thought it was the most awesome thing in the entire world and talked non-stop about it.  Now, I'm not above bribery when it gets positive results.  I had Jaden make a stair-step chart for Taylor.  Each day that she would eat at least three things at lunch, she would get to move up a step. If she didn't eat, she had to move down a step.  When she got to the top, she would get Ice Cream Baby!  Well, did it work?

Absolutely!  She loves the heck out of her baby and has eaten lunch ever since!

Now, if only we could make this magic happen for bedtime...

I'm participating in the Nester's 31 Day Challenge!

Fuzz Balls & Responsibilities

Before you have kids, you really should be tested and questioned.  There should be a test where you are left to survive on little or no sleep, thrown in a room with about 27 puppies, and expected to make them all sit in a straight line for 4 seconds, all while not raising your voice or losing your temper.  If you pass, you are deemed fit to care for a human life.  If you fail, well, you get to take one of the 27 puppies home to practice. I surely would have failed.  There are some days when I think to myself, "What on earth am I doing??"  Then, there are other days that I step outside of myself and look at my life.  I'm proud of my kiddos and the way they behave.  I credit all of those days to a bag of fuzz balls and a ball mason jar.  Not joking.

My girls have responsibility charts.  I feel that they need to learn that they can not always get everything they want, whenever they want.  I feel that it is my responsibility to teach them that they need to work hard for rewards in life... such as ice cream and chocolate.

Every Sunday, the girls and I sit down and decide which responsibilities they want to work hard on that week.  If during the previous week they weren't 100% successful in a certain area, they need to keep that responsibility on their chart.  Some examples of responsibilities that they have to choose from are, Keep Your Hands to Yourself, Show Respect, Get Dressed, No Whining, Take Care of the Pet, Get Ready for Bed, Say Please and Thank You, etc.  There are also two blank spaces that I can write whatever I feel they need to work on, such as, No Tattling and Go Potty.

When we've decided which responsibilities make the chart for the week, the girls hang them on their walls.

Each night, right before they get into bed, the girls get to put their magnets on for the day.

Just to clarify, I know that my kids are only 2 and 4 years old.  I understand that they sometimes forget things.  Because of this, we have the three strike rule.  Let's say, for example, Jaden has No Whining on her chart.  She could be having a bad day and is whining a lot.  I will give her strike one and remind her that No Whining is on her chart.  Later on, if Jaden is still whiny, I will remind her about the chart and give her strike two.  If she continues to whine, she gets strike three and no magnet for that responsibility.

If in one day, the girls fill up their chart and get a magnet for all seven responsibilities, they get to put a fuzz ball in the jar.  If, like in the example above, they miss a magnet, they get no fuzz ball.

Before the first fuzz ball even lands in the jar, we decide what the reward will be once it is full.  For this jar, the girls decided that they were working toward a trip to YoYo for ice cream (frozen yogurt)!  Once the jar is so full that the fuzz ball pop out, they get their reward!

It takes a few weeks to a month before the jar is filled up.  As mini rewards in between, the girls start the week off with $1.  For every empty space on their chart at the end of the week, they lose a nickle.  This has been a great system and has worked well for us.  The girls know their responsibilities and know what the rewards and consequences are.  What I like most about the charts we have is that the responsibilities have a picture beside them.  The girls know what each of them means, even though they can't yet read.  It's great!  Another plus is the magnets.  Before, we were constantly having to print another chart and buy more stickers.  These are reusable from week to week.  Also, the goals are short-term so the girls are able to get more rewards, resulting in them working harder to earn said rewards!  We love it :o)

Reward Chart Update

I'm happy to say that the reward chart is working wonders for Jaden!  She is on her third chart and looks forward to putting stickers on each evening.  I'm going to explain how we work the chart in a little more detail.  I've had a few emails from readers wanting updates!

Layout
This is the chart we used the first time:

We just filled these in as she got them (only allowing for one sticker per activity per day).  If she missed one one day but got it the next day, we didn't skip a square, just filled in the missed one. 

Pros

The chart concept was new to her when we started this.  By giving her only six tasks to focus on, we weren't constantly butting heads with her on what she was supposed to be doing.  It introduced her to responsibility.

Cons

She really wanted her Jessie doll and I think it seemed too far out of reach with so many squares to fill.  I think that when she finally got it, she realized that good behavior leads to good rewards.  I felt like she would go an entire day, completing each activity, yet was not rewarded.

Revisions

With the second chart, we introduced the prize bag.  Basically, I filled a gift bag with little trinkets I found around the house (a fancy watch that didn't work anymore, a Hawaiian lei, some stickers, necklaces, sea shells, etc.).  If Jaden completed every activity in a single day, before bed she would get to pick from the prize bag.  She loved this and really tried harder to make sure she was getting everything done.  If she missed a task, we skipped that square and started on a new column the next day.  At the end, she had to complete the missing squares before she could get her big prize (a new book).

Jaden flew through the second chart!  We decided that we needed to add more tasks since for one, she was set in her routine and was having no trouble with completing her activities.  Don't get me wrong, this is a great thing!  I just didn't want her to not notice her good behavior yet still get rewarded.  Here is the current chart we are working on:

We added a couple more activities that are more learning than behavior oriented. 

The Verdict

Jaden is doing GREAT with her charts!  She likes having new things to work on.  In fact, she often tells us something that we should put on her next chart.  We still use the prize bag with this chart and currently she is working toward a Rapunzel doll from the bookstore.  Some readers were concerned that we were trying to control her feelings.  That is not the case at all.  Yesterday, Jaden had a hard time getting out of bed.  She was really tired and was just kind of being... well, a three-year-old!  I had laid her shoes out for her to put on and when I went to check on her, I saw the shoes still on the floor.  I asked her again to put her shoes on and noticed that she was working on putting a different pair on.  I praised her and told her she was doing a great job!  She threw a fit and insisted that I didn't like her brown shoes because I set her white ones out, threw her shoes down and refused to even try to put them on.  Instead of focusing on her tantrum, I just explained to her that she would need to work on waking up happy and putting her shoes on by herself tomorrow (she did both this morning with no fuss) if she wanted a sticker.  She didn't get to pick from the prize bag last night and understood why.

Reward charts might not work for every kid.  Jaden is the type of kid that likes to have a routine so it works great for her.  Also, she's old enough to know when she is doing something she is not supposed to.  She is also old enough to help out with little things like setting and clearing the table.  I don't think I could have introduced the chart to her at a younger age.  She wouldn't have been able to understand the concept. 

I've created a blank chart available for purchase in my Etsy store!  

Are you using a reward system?  What have you found works or doesn't work?  How old were your kids when you started?

Have a great weekend!

I Double-Dog Dare You!

Remember back at the beginning of summer when Borders double-dog dared Jaden??  The challenge was for her to read 10 books this summer, document them on the provided form, have a parent sign the completed list, and she gets a free book! I wanted to make this more of a challenge because Jaden reads at least 10 books a DAY on her own, and I read a different book to her every night. We only listed books that, 1) she hasn't read before either on her own or with me, and 2) took more than one night to finish. Well, she did it!

Jaden with her completed reading list!

She picked Miss Daisy is Crazy for her free book!

After cashing in on all of her hard work, we stayed and played a little...

Great job J!! I'm so proud of you!!

If you recall, I also took the challenge.  I didn't quite make it though... Labor Day was my goal for my 10 books and I only completed seven.  I'm going to push myself and give it a shot for fall though!  By December 1st, I hope to have read 10 more books!  I'm starting with James Patterson's 2nd Chance.  Now, what shall I reward myself with if I succeed???

Jaden the OFFICIAL Big Girl!

For quite a while now, we've been trying to get Jaden to sit on the big potty without her princess potty seat.  She has had no problem doing so at the babysitter's house, but at home, forget it!  Being the wonderful parents that we are, Mike and  started to bribe her a little.  We told her that as soon as she could do it, we would take her to the BIG toy store (Toys R Us) and she could buy any toy she wanted in the whole store!  Well... a few nights ago at 9:45 pm, J comes out to the family room and says she has to go potty.  Mike goes to help her... they take a while.  Mike finally comes out and says that Jaden is ready to sit on the big potty.  HOT DOG!  I go in there and she said she only wanted to "practice," meaning she wanted to sit on the potty with her PJs on.  Hey, it's a step!  Oh, and just so you know, the reason she was scared of the potty is because one of her boyfriends at the sitter's left the seat up once and she about fell in.  SO, she lifted the lid and sat right up there like a big girl!  I was so proud :o)  I told her that the next day, we would go to the BIG toy store and she could buy any toy she wanted.  Her request: the slinky dog from Toy Story.  Well...

Welcome, Mr. Slinky Dog!

Then, while we were at the store, she said she had to go potty.  I told her I didn't bring her seat because she was a big girl.  We got in the restroom and she was a little nervous because the potty was much bigger.  But, she did it!!  Since her little bootie is so tiny, she has to hold onto the toilet seat so she doesn't fall in.  We made sure to wash our hands about three times before leaving the restroom!  She ran out and announced to the whole store her dad that she DID potty!  He was holding a Toy Story Seek and Find book and told her she could get it for being a big girl!

Such a proud big girl!

Good job, J!!  We are so proud of you :o)

I Double Dog Dare You!

I'm a book junkie.  I would much rather (should time and kids allow) spend a day on the couch with a blanket and a book than in front of the TV.  Jaden love to read as well.  She has a ton of books and lays in bed every night, reading herself to sleep. 

Well, Borders has challenged Jaden and all of the other little kiddos out there to read ten books this summer in their '10 Summer Reading Double Dog Dare!

This challenge is for kids under 12 years of age.  Print off this form and list the books your child reads.  Once they read ten books, take the list into Borders and get a free book!

When I was in elementary school, I remember my teachers reading us books like Shiloh and The Boxcar Children.  Story time was always my favorite part of the day!  I've been collecting short chapter books for the girls for a while now.  I think that I'm going to try reading one to Jaden to see if she has any interest. 

We accept your dare, Borders!  In fact, I think I'll also take the challenge on, myself!  Since I don't fall into the under 12 category, I'll have to think up my own reward... any suggestions?

Welcome to the McClure Wildlife Sanctuary

Those of you that follow me on Facebook already know that I had a frightful encounter with a opossum.  I've kept my eyes peeled but have yet to see him again.  On Saturday, we were getting ready to go to the mall and I had to go back inside to print a coupon when I see a raccoon scaling our fence!  I watched him make his way across the yard and take shelter at our shed!  We have an old dog house connected to our shed.  The previous owner of our house attached it and cut out an opening.  The opening has been boarded off BUT the door doesn't stay closed.  I've yet to check, but there may or may not be families of wildlife living in there.  *shiver*  The opossum was under the shed.  Again, I've yet to go out there and crouch down to see if there is anything actually residing under the shed... I don't want them to jump out and scratch my eyes out!

Seeing as I'm too scared to actually go out there and investigate, I'm taking volunteers!

Speaking of wildlife, here's what my girls were up to this weekend :o)

She likes to peek over the top of her crib... we play peek-a-boo :o)

Not crawling yet but doing an awful lot of "swimming"!!

Good girl reward: PLAY-DOH!

Our new babysitter: Jude

T was really eyeing those fish sticks!  This was her first ride in the shopping cart!

Good Girls (and Dad)

After closing last Spring due to a fire, DeBrand reopened this week! Jaden's Good Girl Reward was a trip to "the chocolate store." We didn't make it there yesterday (opening day) because it was so crappy out. We went this morning though and let me tell you, it was WONDERFUL!! Jaden got a Happy Halloween chocolate bar, Mike had a Deluxe Nut truffle, and I thoroughly enjoyed a Mocha truffle! We had a great time and are already planning a "hot chocolate day" later this winter :o)