Sunday, January 10, 2010

2010 Rewards, Motivations and Goals



2010- Our Goals, Our Motivations and Our Rewards Boards!

As many of you may know and have seen, we keep the kids "Rewards Boards" posted up on the wall in the kitchen.  Previously, they were on a giant hot pink posterboard and we used stars to track their progress.  It worked wonderfully!!  But then, after having several inquiries for more information and pictures and what not, I tried to create a post to show and tell all about it- only for my post to get lost somewhere in Cyberspace.... not happy.  But no love lost.... in the process, I thought I'd add some helpful tools and links and inadvertently (my 10c word for the day!) researched the SuperNanny just a bit and discovered her, even cooler, reward boards!!!  So I thought I use hers, as ours was beginning to get a little tatterred and worn.... 

After a few trials and tribulations, we FINALLY got our new boards up and running, just in time for the new year!!
 


Bella's chart is on the right while Anthony chose the Pirate theme on the left.  We dug out some game pieces and use those to move their 'marker' up and down as needed.  I printed the pages directly from the Supernanny site, laminated them and use 'tacki-tape' (?) to move their markers and to hang our creations. 


This was our first official week using the new charts.  They each start at the bottom on "Start" and have to work their way up to 10.  They have to earn it in order to move up- setting the table, putting away their laundry, doing other chores as asked- no questions asked or whining allowed, etc...  But they can also lose it and go back down at the drop of a hat- bad behavior, not listening, arguing and fighting, time outs, etc...  One night last week, Bella did go down 2-3 places in just a manner of minutes, but made it all the way back up to 9 by the week end.  :O)  Anthony, on the other hand, managed to make it all the way to 10 and held on to it (although just by a thread) all the way to the end!! 

So then what? you ask.... well, that's up to you!!  Last year, they earned a quarter for each star they had at the end of the week (the primary difference was that they started with 10 stars and had to keep them all week...now they get to earn them!!).  The quarters still work for us, but have decided to tweak that just a bit as well.  Last year, we discovered that it was nearly impossible for them to not spend it as fast as they earned it!!  And when you're only earning $2-$2.50/week, that's a whole lot of nothing they wasted their money on.  We even tried to find incentives for them to SAVE for... and found that Bella is a MUCH BETTER saver than her brother!!  Combined with some birthday money she got, she managed to save enough for a really nice digital camera!! 


So, this year, we're going to help them save...  and just like our family individual goals, we're keeping with our theme of 100.  If they have 10 perfect weeks, they will have earned 100 quarters!!  So, below their charts, they have another 100 board to track their earnings!!




And just because I know you're dying to hear about our family individual goals of 100...  I'll tell you.
It really originated as goals for the kids, but of couse, they sucked us in too!  And to be honest with you- well, the mom and the dad are not doing too well yet.... 




The kids were kind enough to make us each nametags for our tracker.  Mom's goal is to work out 100 times, dad's is to save $25- 100 times, Anthony's goal is to read 100 chapters (a revised compromise from 100 books) and Bella's goal is to learn 100 words!!  As you can see by the bottom 2 charts, the kids are off to a great start!!!

So, what are your goals, your rewards and your motivations (aka: resolutions) for 2010?