Tuesday, April 25, 2006

A Couple of Questions XIV

I've decided that I really like the spring too. If I can make it to March 21st - life is good. It's January to March I have the problems with...... Thanks for everybody's input to encourage me to embrace spring......

1. What is your opinion/strategy regarding childrens' allowance? No right or wrong answer, just looking for input.

2. What is a tool/product that you have found within the last year that you wonder how you ever lived without it?

5 comments:

StephieAnne said...

1. Obviously, we are still trying to figure this out. I'm not a big one on paying to do chores as I want them to know that's just expected as being part of the family, but am not so gung ho about just handing out money either. One friend has a set sum per month, then pulls out deductions when thingts AREN'T done, such as leaving shoes/bags at the door instead of putting them away. Currently, Brayden is earning a set amount per week if he reads in a chapter book for 20 minutes a day....

2. In the kitchen: a big metal stirring spoon like you'd find in a summer camp kitchen. Can't tell you how many plastic ones I've ruined stirring thick batter....

In the bathroom: the "do it itself" shower cleaner I just picked up. Don't want to admit how seldom our bedroom's shower gets cleaned, but now after John showers every morning, he presses the button, it waits 15 seconds then sprays the shower with "cleansing bubbles"...... the shower is definitely looking cleaner......

Outside: a kneeling mat for weeding.... and pruner sheers. Those are awesome and recently I brought them in to trim the ends of a boquet of flowers John had the kids get for me- Wow, it works so much better than a knife or scissors.

LiteraryGirl said...

1. We haven't really started this yet. We did a thing for a while where they got a quarter a day for making their beds and getting themselves dressed. It kind of fizzled when we started our reward charts.
2. In the last year? I guess my hair straightener and Bath and Body Works lip gloss. I have mentioned both of those 1,000 times but I can't think of anything else. OH, I know. Activa yogurt. Just discovered it in the last month and love it.

Colie said...

1. Although I have not experienced this yet - Caleb is only 11 months - I still have a big thought. I read a parenting book called, "Making Children Mind without Losing Yours" by Dr. Kevin Leman. I highly recommend this book and he had a good take on allowance. His parenting technique is called reality parenting. He suggests giving children allowance (more for older children, less for yonger - reality) just for being a part of the family. They have a set amount. They do have to do chores but it is not linked to allowance. Then use this to teach. Since it is their money they get to do with it as they see fit - minus tithe. When they choose to save he matches dollar for dollar and it goes in the bank. If they choose to blow it on candy for the week and then they ask for something say, "Of course, you have an allowance." If they have spent it then this teaches them responsibility. He goes into more detail but I like the idea of this method. When it comes to chores his idea is that if a child has a chore of taking the garbage out and he doesn't do it but his sister does - that child is responsible for paying his sister to do his chore. This doesn't take his allowance away to "punish" him - he contributes part of his allowance to get the work done.

Of course when it comes to big jobs around the house - helping dad paint the house - or whatever - they should be paid. This is aboce and beyond their responsibility.

So ... that is the just of it. The book is better than my summarization of the topic but I wanted to share. Good luck!

2. I'm not too sure. I do love my kitchen aid! I make bread, pizza dough, cookies, - really everything! It's great!

HollieHobbie said...

1. We give Emma $3 or so per week just for being in our family, but she can earn more by doing extra chores, not the expected make her bed, take dishes to the sink etc, but like sweep the rocks off the walk or something. She puts some in Sunday School, saves some, and spends some. Last year she saved to get a new bike. It was fun for her to watch her money grow and she was pretty proud getting the bike.
2. Right now: I love the pacifier!

HollieHobbie said...

Steph, I am going to try the do it itself shower cleaner; I've been pondering it, but didn't know if it was hokey: thanks for the infomercial.
Jodi, love Aptiva too! Go digestive system!