Aaron's Chore Chart

This is a new thing we recently implemented into our daily routine as we were slowly finding that Aaron started "acting out" a bit a couple months after Sunny was born. Maybe a tiny bit of jealousy had kicked it, but nonetheless we found that tantrums and whining were becoming a regular thing, and that the "time-out corner" was becoming a popular spot. So a few days before an F.H.E. (Family Home Evening) of ours, Matt and I decided that Aaron was receiving too much attention when he was doing the "wrong" things. So to remedy that, I created this age-appropriate chore chart for him to acknowledge when he does the "right things." So during an F.H.E. we presented the chart to Aaron and explained how the chart works.

Being that he LOVES colors, he was totally excited about the color-coded sticks/pockets. We put the chart on the wall at his level, and we explained that every time he does one of the things listed on the pockets which includes (things that are relevant to him): Putting his toys away, sharing (with his sister, or anyone else), getting dressed (or letting mommy/daddy dress him without hassle), being patient (which essentially means no whining or tantrums), being polite, and going to the potty - he can take the colored stick and put it in the "Rainbow Pocket." Once he gets 5 of any color sticks, he gets a small treat.

Something that we don't use often, but is still there - next to the "Rainbow Pocket" there is a "Best Bee-havior" pocket where, if mommy and daddy catch him doing something especially good, or he has been a good boy all day, he can get a "Best Bee-havior" stick. If he get's three of those, he gets to put his "Star" up and he gets a "Big Prize" - which can be extra TV time, or just a small toy from the Dollar Tree, but he doesn't know that. ;-) .

And so he doesn't get "rewarded" for every time he does something good, we only let him "get a stick" some of the time. (His excitement for the chore chart was apparent when he kept removing toys from his toy box, then putting them back and asking for a stick - only to be found 5 minutes later removing toys from his toy box and putting them back, and again, asking for a stick. lol)  Luckily our "stick limit" doesn't seem to deter him from wanting to do good things.

Overall, it has been a month since we have had the chore chart, and it was what really helped in Aaron's potty-training process (He noticed that he would consistently get every color stick except the purple one, and when he figured out it was for going "Potty" in the potty chair, that one purple popsicle stick served as one form of his motivation. Recently a majority of the sticks he has been getting are purple). Also, it has really made an improvement on his behavior - ours too. We have become more patient with Aaron and have learned to be more proud of the small things he does. And to sum it up for Aaron, he still doesn't do everything we ask him when we ask him too (he is a toddler, after all), and he still has occasional trips to the "time-out corner" - he isn't a perfect little angel by any means, but on the same note, we are not perfect parents either (if there is such a thing), but you can clearly tell that he feels more appreciated which is so important with our new addition to the family (Sunny) who currently demands so much of our attention. So I'd say that so far it has been a success! :-)