Hey there! Welcome back to my Summer Survival Series! Are you ready to get your next set of Summer Survival Tips?
Now that you took time for yourself, and Step Number 1 is hopefully in the making. It’s time for our next step for Summer Survival!
NUMBER 2. CREATE A SYSTEM FOR CHORES, BEHAVIOR, & REWARDS.
Summer Survival Tips – Chores
I’m a BIG supporter of chores for kiddos. Listen, they are CAPABLE. I am a BIGGER non-supporter of the FIGHTING that comes along with making them do chores. So let’s make it FUN this summer, shall we?
To help combat this chore war, I downloaded a relatively new app called “S’Mores Up.” You create an account and you add each child to that account. Next, you create chores (or choose from the chores they have already preprogrammed). Then, you come up with some rewards for doing said chores. Finally, YOU GET THEM TO WILLINGLY HELP AROUND THE HOUSE! WHAAATTTT!?!?
Summer Survival Tips – Rewards
When Little Curtis takes out the trash, he gets a point, which the app has cutely nicknamed a “s’more.” When he saves up enough “s’mores,” he can cash them in for awesome prizes! Like staying up late, extra screen time, a batch of his favorite cookies, or a toy from the dollar store!
The littler kids, like my Griffin, really don’t care about the points, but they love to be doing the same things as the big kids! AND *DUH* while they’re cleaning, you can be cleaning! This was a huge “AHA” moment for me several years back. I didn’t have these expectations for my kids and I felt this huge mom guilt while trying to clean as they entertained themselves (which usually involved following behind me and undoing all of my hard work…).
In addition to the chores app, I’ve also created this “Chore Board” so my bigger kids can earn some money and do some jobs that I just really don’t want to do! Check it out.
SNEAKY, right? I remember thinking that my parents had kids just so we could clean for them. Obviously, I now realize how much I DIDN’T do as a child. But I also realize that this is indeed a BONUS to having children!!! BAHAHA!
Summer Survival Tips – Behaviors
BUT HOLD UP. Let’s get real. None of this is going to happen if we allow misbehavior. My parenting style mostly falls under the Authoritative category. Check out this information from Strictly Stress Management to learn more. I believe our kiddos need to see us giving them consistency, strength, expectations, practical life skills, and deep, unconditional love. I believe in natural consequences, but also consequences that are consistent. When my child does behavior A, they should already know what punishment B has always been. At a very young age, they’ll start developing the LIFE SKILLS needed to be able to weigh their behaviors with the risk of the consequences.
I already have a good handle on this in my home. I taught kindergarteners for 5 years. So this summer I’m really focusing on Quality Character. We are going to use a ticket system for this behavior plan. The kids will earn a ticket when they display excellent character. Tickets can be lost when poor character becomes a problem. They’ll go “shopping” in the treasure box once a week!
If you are interested in a printable of the Character Counts PDF Click Below
https://susiepeas.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Character-Counts-1.pdf
Now, I didn’t say today’s topic was going to be an easy task. One thing I know for certain is that these transition times (like the upcoming transition from school year to summertime) are IDEAL for making changes. So let’s practice our MOM VOICES and perfect THAT LOOK that means business. We can do this, Momma! #bosslady #queenbee ~Boo
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