An Ignoble Experiment: [Parent Hacks] 1 new post in Parent Hacks

2012/06/14

[Parent Hacks] 1 new post in Parent Hacks

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Soft, colorful alternative to a star chart: the warm fuzzy jar

After reading our recent discussion about upgrading a marble jar with rocks, Melissa sent this adorable account of her family's warm fuzzy jar.

I totally stole this idea from The R House. I printed a warm fuzzy label on sticker paper and put it on a thrift store jar. We got pom poms from the craft store (with a coupon, of course).

The green tape line around the top shows the kids where the jar is considered full. They get five warm fuzzies for doing morning chores without reminders, three if I have to remind them and none if they grump about it. When they are helpful and considerate of others, they can choose how many warm fuzzies to put in the jar.

The really big warm fuzzies are for extra special things like doing something for the first time or having a great success at school. A basket holds the fuzzies and list of family rewards. The kids are welcome to suggest new rewards. When the jar fills, we dump the warm fuzzies back into the basket and start over. My 6-year-old and 4-year-old really love it and enjoy thinking of what they will get to do the next time the jar is full.

LOVE! One jar for the whole family encourages sibling cooperation -- brilliant. Plus, those cheery colors just make me happy. (Thanks so much for sending the photos, Melissa.)

More: Hacks for star charts and other reward systems