Mom Bucks

K gave me an idea the other day! We were talking about ways to get M to stop sucking her thumb and K suggested "Mum Bucks" as a form of reward (or consequence) for M anytime we see her sucking (or catch her NOT sucking) her thumb! I pondered this for a while and I figured that if it works in school for the teachers then it just might work at home for the parents - right?!
Tim and I don't pay the kids in a cash allowance but we do enjoy offering rewards from time to time for the little extras that they do around the home. So, I really pondered on this idea for a few days and I decided that "Mom Bucks" would be incorporated into our household. (K really likes "Mum Bucks" - but we aren't British and I'm not a flower!)
Today I spent some time thinking about rewards and consequences that could earn (or cause you to pay) Mom Bucks. We came up with things like "causing contention due to your choices" - you pay up a couple Mom bucks or not turning in your homework! But if you are caught providing service and you're not seeking a reward then you'll get paid a few Mom Bucks!
Then we came up with a "menu" of things that you can cash your bucks in for! Things like a trip to Baskin Robbins or even Kangaroo Zoo! They might also choose to cash in some bucks for a "30 minute maid" to help with chores, or extra TV time!
I even took some time to create the bucks too - with pictures of ME right in the center!
I am hopeful that this little system will get the kids excited to do school work (since most of the rewards and consequences are arranged around school activities) and I am anxious to see if it helps them to pay better attention to how they interact with each family member. Hey - it can't hurt - right? And if I'm taking them out for a "job well done" anyway, I might as well incorporate a few Mom Bucks into the system and get a reward myself! Here's hoping!