An idea for teaching responsibility
by Leah

I use a reward system and homemade money to teach my kids responsibility.  Family chores are family responsibility. They don't get paid for that but they count toward service hours for things like Scouts, Young Women Personal Progress, and Activity Days.

For personal responsibility, we use Family Fun Bucks that I made in the words processing program on the computer in denominations of 1, 5, and 10.  They brush hair (max 3), teeth (max 3) and bath for $1 each per day. Laundry and dishes put away is also $1 each piece. Pick up room and bathroom $1 each per day. Since we are split family (dad lives in  another state to work and takes part of the kids at a time), cooking lunch or dinner is $5 for half the family at either house and $10 for ALL the family. So what do they use the money for? Well if they have left their toys and personal belongings out at night the BUTLER comes around an picks it up and places it in a box that is then put in the storage shed. On Saturdays we have "buy back". Mommy tends the store while working to prepare her Primary lesson and the next week's studies (we home educate).

As far as play privileges, we use a similar system to the Dilly Septuplets using a ladder. Everyone starts at the bottom and climb in order to achieve privileges that can be as little as playing with Barbie Dolls and playing outside to skateboarding and even higher Nintendo and friends over. When I catch them doing good and helping or being kind, I move them up. If they are not nice and misbehave, I move them down. Then when school is over they may check the position and may play with any privilege they have earned up to the position of their color push pin. So a nine or ten includes MOST/ALL privileges. They can earn $5 Family Fun Bucks IF they remain unmoved at the top of the privilege ladder the entire day. THERE ARE some children who max it out and STAY that way, which is PERSONAL advancement and add to their personal rewards.

We have also noticed the increase in money skills in our children as well. I have one daughter that always asks for $10s. She is always trying to figure out "If I earn $3 dollars and I give you $7 then you will give me a $10, Right?" And SHE is only 6 years old! Incredible!

My house is not spotless but comfortable and as a family WE do it. We are learning to pick up after ourselves and learn PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY. I have never worried about having "Cinderella" children, at least the way she was before the Prince "saved" her!