Recently I took a step back and realized that AG is 6 3/4 years old! I think my subconscious may have known it the whole time but the conscious part of me was caught off guard. I also realized that she and Boots are definitely old enough to start helping and stop some of their less ladylike behavior. So...The Marble Jars were born. I readily admit I first saw the idea in a Parenting magazine in a pediatrician's waiting room. I tried to remember as much as I could, modified it for my little darlings, made an inexpensive trip to Michael's, and sat the girls down for a talk. I explained to them that they absolutely had to start helping us around the house. Of course they readily agreed and were very willing to start sweeping, mopping, and scrubbing toilets right then. Just kidding. AG looked at me like I had lost my marbles (pun intended) and Boots looked at AG to see what her reaction should be. (She always follows AG's lead.) Then I showed them their pretty glass jars with their names on them and the pretty purple and white glass marbles. I showed the the point system I had created and told them about the feeling of satisfaction that they would have from being such great helpers. Then I got serious and told them about the $$$$ they get when their jar gets full. Basically, I wrote down all the things they can do to make our house run much smoother and assigned each chore a point value. Getting up the first time they are asked to is worth 2 marbles. Putting away their clothes is worth 3 and putting their shoes in their closet is worth 1. Their are several other items all with a value of 1-3 marbles. Also, for EXTRA good behavior daddy and I can give BONUS marbles. On the flip side negative behavior results in marbles being taken away. Fighting with your sister will cost you 2 marbles, being disobedient will cost 1, etc... So far it has worked like a charm. I can even remind them when we are away from home and they straighten right up.
I had my doubts about the marble system and I still wonder how long it will last. I also struggled with the idea of "paying" the kids to do things around the house that perhaps they should do just because it would be helpful. On the other hand, I also thought about the argument of we don't go to work and do our job for free. So, for now at least, we are going to try this system and see how it goes.
