Rewards!!!

About 2 months ago we were really struggling in the listening, playing nicely, and choosing the right department. The change in routine with Ryan back in school just really threw these little stinkers off and they were at each other ALL THE TIME!!! That's when I found a fun Family Home Evening lesson on kindness. I decided to go with it for FHE and to implement an activity that would reinforce the kindness and help with discipline. We made jars!!! Sort of like the marble jars in grade school. The boys decorated theirs with stickers and put their names on them and then got a ball in their jar for being good listeners during FHE. The first few days they were putting balls in their jar left and right and being rewarded for everything they did. It was a lot, but you wouldn't believe the change these little rugrats made! It was AMAZING!!! They went from fighting all the time to helping each other out and sharing everything. It was awesome!

Well, after two months, they finally filled their jars last week!!! This may be bribery at it's finest... but I don't care, it worked! They finally earned their reward!!! So, we went to Wally World and they got to pick a toy! Ryan had picked out what he wanted weeks ago and would eye it every time we went to the store. It was fun to explain to him and help him see how he worked so hard and earned something that he wanted!
Austin was undecided until we went to the store. He told us on the way there that he wanted a dinosaur, so Justin helped him find some and he was excited! When we got home we had to immediately get their new treasures out! Austin would put his dinosaur in your face and tell you that "Dinosaurs say yarrrr!" Don't know why he can't put the 'R' in the front too?!

Ryan got his play dough factory out and quickly figured out how to use it. He has played with it everyday since!

I am so happy that this lesson on kindness and the activity has worked out so well for my boys! Luckily we've been able to put more balls in the jar than we've had to take out, so hopefully we'll have continued success with it!