What Works for me Wednesday!

"You've lost ALL your marbles"

Ok- I may have said that to my 4 year old in the middle of Walmart while he was choosing to not listen to me, but I was really talking about marbles. Marble from his marble jar. Although I received a few stares from crotchety old ladies, I didn't care because I've implemented the marble jar in our home for a couple months now and it has worked wonderfully. We still use the choice method, but this seems to help as well. I've seen such a difference. There are still fights and disagreements (but brothers will be brothers). When the boys do something "good" they get a few marbles in their jar. If they do something "not good" since we don't like the word -bad-, they remove a marble (or two or three depending on the deed). I'm finding little helpers all the time. Washing windows, vacuuming floors, setting the table, and even helping each other. The marble jar really helps the boys learn that doing good deeds is important and the feelings they receive for doing service is a happy emotion (though their reward is a dollar store trip or a race car which makes them happy). Try the marble jar. You will see your little one grow up a little bit and I guarantee it will make you smile.