After coming home from a 3 week vacation, and diving right into 2 weeks of swimming lessons, our summer got off to a rather crazy start.
Now that we can settle into a more normal routine, it is high time for me to get organized and motivated. And not only me… MY KIDS NEED MOTIVATION TOO! I am so tired of them asking to “watch a movie,” or hearing that they are “bored.”
Inspired by my cousin Margaret, I decided to implement a summertime plan called “The Ticket to Summer!“
All summer long the children can earn tickets for doing any of the items on the list that I have given them. These items are all things I would like them to do this summer, but which they are not always motivated to do on their own.
Basically, you can earn one ticket by:
- Getting up and dressed for morning prayers by 7:30 am (Mon-Fri) without being woken by mom or dad.
- Doing all the chores on your chart by 9:00 am(Mon-Sat)
- Read a book for 30 minutes
- Practice on the Piano for 30 minutes
- Write a 10 line letter to a friend or family member
- Play nicely with the baby for 30 minutes
- Read to the girls for 20 minutes
- Do 2 pages in Handwriting workbook
- Do 2 Math worksheets
- Do 1 lesson of geography
- Spend time exploring outside and then add a page to your nature journal
- Do an extra job for Mom
You can earn two tickets if you:
- Memorize one poem or song
- Memorize a new prayer or bible verse
- Memorize 25 States and Capitals
- Ask for, and receive training on, a new chore from mom
- Fix a meal (with the approval of mom)
The children can redeem their tickets for a number of different things:
- 20 minute turn on an Educational Computer Game – 2 Tickets
- 20 minutes on EWTN Kids – 2 Tickets
- Stay up for an extra 30 minutes – 2 Tickets
- Watch a video/movie for 30 minutes – 2 Tickets
- Go to the Library for Story time (July only) – 4 Tickets
- Go to the local Bookstore and choose a new book – 6 Tickets
- Go to the Kid Zone – 10 Tickets
- Go out for Ice Cream – 10 Tickets
- $5.00 to do something fun (lunch, ice skating, bowling) – 15 Tickets
I also love my cousins idea of having a biweekly
“Good Behavior Drawing.”
In addition to the above, the children can also earn tickets for good behavior that go into a jar. Twice a week, I will draw a ticket from the jar for a prize. They can not ask for these tickets, but, if I catch them being exceptionally good, I will give them a ticket. The better they are the more chances they will have of winning a prize. They can choose there prize themselves, from the prize basket. The prizes include a $5.00 gift card to Target, a couple Activity Books, some art supplies, water balloons and a few toys.
So far, this morning, it is off to a WONDERFUL start! The children are dressed, chores are done, and the boys have both been reading for the past 30 minutes. Hopefully, this enthusiasm will stick!
Thank you Jessica! this is an awesome and amazing [tangible] idea! and thanks to your dear cousin :o)
This is brilliant! Thank you!
Great idea, Jessica. If it works then keep doing what works!
Only 2 mo. left of summer. Not long enough for me. I want 5…or maybe 10!!!???!!!
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This is so cool!!!! Wow!! I just made job charts today. I love the positive reward thing, I’m going to HAVE to show my hubby this!!!
Where did you get the tickets?
Brilliant, happy ticketing : )
So far so good! The kids are LOVING this! However, I am having to share the computer since EWTN kids is their favorite reward, at this point, and they are cashing in their tickets as fast as they can earn them! 🙂
Jamie ~ I picked up the roll of tickets last night at WalMart. It was only a few dollars.
No that’s excellent and creative parenting!
That’s such a great idea! We’re quite bored ourselves. And the children have watched far too much television.
I am inspired! We have spent the majority of our time at the pool (our community has one that our HOA pays for). It’s been too bloomin’ hot to go to the playground!
I am pulling out the tickets today! 🙂
I love this idea, thanks for sharing it!
I’m glad my idea helped you. I’m still working out a few little kinks with mine. Some things are too many tickets. Some things are not enough. But, all in all it’s helping me too!
Oh! It is helping a ton, and my children are LOVING it!! I agree though, there are a few things that I need to fine tune as well. But, for the most part, it is going great! Thanks again!
😀 I ‘bumped into’ your blog a few weeks ago and I must say I love it! Thank you for sharing such nice things with the rest of the world. I’d just love to give you a little present: http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h146/albares/Bruselasetc241.jpg
Lots of love and God bless!
María
PS – I wish one day I´ll have a family like yours, it´s lovely! Keep on the good work!
Maria~ Thank you very much for the beautiful picture! I love it! God Bless, Jessica
This is a very good idea. Thank you! God bless you.
What a great post! Thanks for sharing!
LOVE it! Thanks for sharing!
That’s a fabulous idea!! Love it!
studly mom! 🙂