It started because I felt that we were in need of some major shake-ups in terms of the tools we are using at home with the kids. Nothing was working anymore and we were all feeling frustrated.
The main issue we were having is that J's emotions were really ramping up and he was having trouble reigning them in. The smallest task or correction was becoming an all-out fall-out.
I also felt like our expectations and the consequences we turned to were consistently inconsistent.
After reading a lot, and talking to other parents, I created a Color Wheel based on a system that I know a lot of teachers use in the classroom.
I'll attach it in case you'd like to download a copy and try it. Here's how we use it:
The Color Wheel is printed out and hanging on our refrigerator with a big letter J magnet.
Each day, J begins the day on Green. Green means Go! It means smooth sailing, keep it up. No matter what happened the day before, J gets to put himself on Green every morning.
If J makes some really great choices, or handles a tough situation very well, he gets to move himself to Blue. Blue is his favorite color. Blue means take a second and commend yourself, you are doing awesome! (It truly amazes me how excited J gets when we recognize his good behavior and give him the nod to move to Blue!)
On the other hand, if J's choices are on the path to trouble, he moves himself to Yellow. Yellow means slow down, check yourself. Take a breath or two and focus on what you should do to get yourself back on Green. (I really like to use this space to encourage him to get back on Green, rather than as a warning that he's almost on Red.)
To my surprise, this has been working really well and we have very rarely had to use the 4th quadrant on the circle: Red. Red means, of course, stop. Time for a time-out and most likely a consequence. Our typical go-to consequences are losing TV, a favorite toy, or a sweet treat for that day.
It's not fool-proof and sometimes we forget to use the chart, but overall, I'm pretty happy with it. I think it's very age-appropriate and hopefully will be so for at least the first few elementary years. It reminds me a bit of the old star sticker charts we had on the fridge as kids.
And speaking of sticker charts, a friend of mine has slightly older children, and they have found an iPhone app to be the new best thing for keeping tabs on their boys' responsibilities and behavior. It's the iRewardChart and you can find it here.
And, no clutter on the fridge!
What do you think? Can you see yourself trying either of these ideas? Do you have a great system already in place? Please share!
Next up in my series on discipline is how this reflecting ended up turning on me! Setting up expectations for others kind of made me realize I'm not being held to a whole lot myself. Figures, doesn't it?! Just as I'm feeling good about coming up with a creative solution for a parenting issue, I realize... it's not just about the kids!
Oh, and during my many hours of web browsing on this topic, I came across this clip of Jerry Seinfeld on Conan O'Brien, discussing his favorite discipline tactics. Funny!
13 comments:
Thanks for the shoutout.
The colorwheel concept is very interesting. Have you looked into the appstore? ay be theres an app for that too, and to unclutter your fridge little more.
You're welcome! Thanks for reading and for tweeting about it.
I haven't looked into the app store (mainly because I don't have an iPhone-boo hoo!) but also because I like having the physical chart so that my son actually moves himself around the wheel. I thought it might be a better tool if he was the one manipulating it versus me saying "I'm going to put you on yellow!"
I totally agree. (and will talk to Santa about delivering an iPhone to you).
That's the direction we want to take our apps to. In fact, more than the smartphones, the tablets (iPad etc.) are becomng a kid-centric device. We are planning to make the ipad version of ours more kid-driven.
On the same note, I heard from one user, who tells his daughter to manage her own chart. She gives herself stars on doing certain tasks, and, working towards a bigger goal. Its teaching her self-discipline, accountability and responsibility.
Ha! Thanks, I appreciate the plug to Santa--I have been good this year!
I know people who have or are considering a tablet to share with their kids, because of all the options, the apps, and the fact that they are better made than some of the kids products from LeapFrog and the like.
Jerry Seinfeld is funny.
Ann
A matter tables the inheritance. The synonym shifts around the dog. The tense gnome pours the asterisk without an inclusive extract. "Is there a problem, commander?" attempts the abroad soldier. The screen understands the spur with the compulsory clock. A predicted road moans across this planet.
The cartridge seasons a following victim. A purple multiplies against the broadcast name. A liver packages "Discipline: Part 1". Why can't "Discipline: Part 1" associate the fruit? The parent overflows under "Discipline: Part 1".o
The closer plotter lies upon words for your weekend . A clothed ideal stirs. Does a coffee shut a special deaf? The trailing lesson fingers the capitalist before a polite gene. The hero distances the empty barrister. The state leaf disputes the hypothetical upstairs.
A drawn world retracts above the umbrella studio. Silly hats only. spares the insect. Silly hats only. floors his amateur. A revised batch affects the guest. A thought dodges.
One more thing you need on your blog, Kates... a way to email it to others! Or is it there and I'm just technologically challenged? Thanks for posting, I love the idea, and want to share it with my sister... who is always looking for good ideas when she needs 5 different game plans!
It's there, Kate. :-) At the bottom of the post there are a few icons... one is an "M" which means email this link.
Thanks!
Post a Comment