Organization Update

In my efforts to become more organized (well, at least where my children are concerned), I did what every other geek (a title that I now claim next to my husband with pride) does: Google search.

I searched for a chart for my kids to help me get ideas on how to put together one of my own, but then I ran across one that was adaptable and easy and basically perfect for my needs. It's called Handipoints. It's really simple. You just go on and create a list of chores or tasks for your kids to do. Those tasks, when completed, create points for your child (or take points away if your child is doing something bad). Those points can be saved up to be used on goals that you (or the child) creates.

It's really adaptable and easy to use, so we gave it a try. I started on Tuesday right after blogging about this last time and doing my googling. Well, I had to go to the store and get printer ink, too.

The verdict? I'm still undecided. It's working for Becca, though. Her whole attitude changed when I started to give her points for things. Now she wants to get her chores done so that she can earn her date out with her parents and no siblings(though she told me that she just wants her daddy to go and not me...still not a fun thing to hear). She gets got a demerit for a bad attitude just one time, and now she is working on that. I also don't have to fight her to get her hair done in the mornings because she wants points for brushing her hair. The total turn around in attitude is great for her, and I'm really excited to see how long this lasts.

Micah isn't totally up to it, though. I think his problem is that there isn't the instant gratification that he normally gets for doing things. I think I'll have to start marking the chart with stickers instead of checks, or letting him check things off on the computer. That might solve his problems.

Ali and Zoe just don't get it. They are only 2. I didn't really think that they would, but I didn't want to leave them out.

There's also a thing with Handipoints to create a character and get things for him to wear and stuff using another set of points, but that thing costs money, and I'm all about the free stuff. Still, it seems like fun stuff. I haven't really discovered all that the program does, I'm sure, but still, it's working just for the charts for now. I'll probably stay up late sometime and figure it all out.

My frustration was really regarding Becca anyway, so if this continues to work for her at least, I'll consider it worth it. It's nice to get away from the constant crying over having to do chores and homework. I really didn't like having to continually ground her for attitude issues. It's also nice for her to be reminding me that she has to do her homework or feed her dog.