![]() Shared space are those areas where we all live together: living room, recreation room, kitchen, hallway, bathroom. Personal space are those spaces where either one or two of us live: parent's bedroom, kid's bedroom. Shared spaces are everyone's responsibility to care for, pick up in, and keep tidy. Personal spaces are spaces reserved for those who live in that space. For example, mom will help pick up the kid's room if asked, but it's the kiddos' responsibility to care for their space. Another way we have motivated Aldo to continually change his habits and pick up after himself is, of course, allowance. Allowance enables him the opportunity to learn about finances early on by giving him a 'job' to earn his money that he can save, spend, and donate as he chooses. I'll have another blog on allowance later this week, but it's not always a cash allowance in our home. We have what we call a "Treasure Box" where Aldo can earn prizes, toys, or games for big things like finishing an entire workbook or by earning what I lovingly call "mom bucks." When he completes a chore, he can choose if he wants cash or "mom bucks" for a prize in the treasure box. Prizes are things like arts and crafts kits, science models, small lego sets, or minecraft coins. Nothing in the box costs more than $10, and he has to earn the 10 mom bucks. Mom bucks and USD are the same value so he's still learning the value of how money works. Recently, Aldo wanted to do enough chores to pay for a larger lego set (one that was outside our usual budget). I explained to him that he would need to do x chores for three weeks to earn enough money to purchase it. We made him a little goal chart, hung it on the wall, and he set himself to his task. It took him a little longer than my original estimation because he kept having days where he would forget. But as soon as I would gently remind him he had a goal he was working to, he would get back to his chores. By the end of a month, he had earned the set and was so excited that he got to purchase it himself with his own money. But other than that, it helped establish a few good habits on keeping our shared space cleaner. He's so much happier for a clean play space, especially because his younger brother is now helping clean up as well. Talk about a good role model. Do you use chore charts, allowance, or mom bucks in your home? Tell us about it in the comments.
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AuthorDr. Mom writes small anecdotes, shares examples of fun learning moments, and resources that we have used in our homeschooling adventures. Archives
April 2021
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