Discipline, the fun way

So, as promised, I'm back! What a day. It seems like all the kids have wanted to do is make messes today. I feel like I'm at my wits end sometimes! I guess all moms feel that way once in awhile. Graydon does so well at school and his teacher just loves him. They have a color coded behavior chart at his school and it really helps him there. I hate spanking the kids. I feel like it doesn't do much but make them cry and make them fearful. I guess I grew up in a pretty stressful house as a kid and I just don't want my kids to feel like that, so I don't know why I didn't think of it before, but I made a makeshift chart with things I had lying around for the kids craft time and so far it has really helped. I only have to tell them once and let them know this is their warning before their color is changed and they immediately run and do as they are told. I used a piece of paper cut to size and glued popsicle sticks to it, painted them green, blue, yellow, and red, and painted one clothespin pink (Ella's favorite color) and one green (Graydon's favorite color) and hot glued some color coordinating beads on to add fun and a little personality. I have a little black string tied around it to hold it up and have it attached to my refrigerator with a clip magnet I usually use for their artwork. If they get green all week they get a toy from the Dollar Tree and if they maintain a green all month we'll go out for a banana split. Blue means no treat for that week and no banana split at the end of the month, yellow is no computer for 24 hours, and red is no tv or computer for 24 hours. No matter what color they have by the end of the day, it always resets in the morning.  So far they have really done well and even have a lot of pride with being in the green. Who knew something so little could work so well!


When I said makeshift I wasn't kidding! But it works!
 The one above is just a random picture of Daddy and little Colton and the one below is Mr. Colton helping me clean. I snapped a shot while carrying him in his carrier.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Everyday is a Memory

Image
Today is the last day my son will ever be five. Tomorrow he will be six. He is so excited about growing up. He told when he wakes up he'll be so much taller than he is today. Kids are so sweet. They are so innocent and carefree. They don't judge and when they're young they still think their parents are really cool. I haven't really noticed until today, but today it hit me. Everyday they're getting bigger than the day before, even little Colton. Everyday if you don't pay close attention to the wonders in your world and the excitement in your little guy's eyes it'll be gone before you know it. I know, this blog sounds absolutely pitiful. I have found myself so sad at the thought of my son turning six though! I don't want to miss a moment and regret it later, but sometimes in the busyness of life it's so easy to do. Today I payed close attention to everything and realized how many things I love but take for granted. I love it that my kids still love...
Read more

Where has the time gone?!

Image
  It's been a long time! I was doing a great job of staying on track with posts and then we relocated and there went my focus on my blog. Well, a new year means new beginnings right? So here I am. Since I've written last I've created a website for my photography. You can visit it at www.jackiesimpkinsphotography.weebly.com    Well, Christmas break from school is over and today was the first day back for the kids. Since I was out and about anyway I brought my camera along to capture the sunrise. Every morning the sunrise here takes my breath away but I never have my camera with me since I'm just bringing the little guys to school. Today I made sure to bring it along.     It's just beautiful here! With the rolling hills and the fog from the creek and the houses clustered together it just reminds me a of a real life postcard.    This is another part of the neighborhood but in an area no homes have been built. Just gorgeous! ...
Read more

Comforts of Home

Image
I decided last night that I am going to try to blog on more of a daily basis, or at least as close to a daily basis as I can get. This sounds like a cop out but it has really gotten hard to pull out the camera and take pictures as often as I'd like at home because I have learned through experience that the third child is the hardest. Not in a bad way, just a really busy way. It can be tough to clean house, get lunches made, make healthy breakfasts, homeschool my little preschooler, make supper, and try my best to keep Colton on a decent schedule, plus pull out a camera and snap shots of it all...but I'm going to do my best to try. My original plan for tonight was to snap some shots of us making my DELICIOUS banana bread but I had to rush through it because Colton got cranky and then Rob (hubby) pulled it out of the oven without telling me and the kids dug in and ate the whole top of the loaf. Shame on them, but it's so tasty who could blame them? Well, I happened to watch s...
Read more