Get your kids to WANT to help!

I’m noticing that from time to time I have things to share with you all that have absolutely nothing to do with allergies.  This is one of those times. 

Our marble jar taught my boys to hold doors open for people, offer to carry heavy items, move neighbor’s trash barrels out of the street, help zip coats, tie shoes, and buckle into car seats.  It has taught them to help me with laundry, dishes and cleaning (when it’s not their chore to do so).  Our marble jar encourages my boys to willingly offer help to people without my ever asking them to.  It has created polite, thoughtful, helpful boys. 

For the past two years we’ve used a marble jar as a basic reward system.  It that has done wonders for my boys.  Each and every time they do something nice, they earn a marble.  If it’s something super duper nice, they earn a bouncy ball.  I use immediate recognition of the good deed by singing “MARBLE” and the balls get placed into the marble jar.  When the jar is full they get $10 each to spend however way they want. 

I remember when our youngest was two and he watched as his brother held the door open for strangers.  He recognized the good deed and sang out “MARBLE”.  It’s worth the $20.  🙂