Responsibilities

I can't tell you how many times in the last 6months I've heard, "Just go to the bank and buy money..." from Jace. The littlebigman who has broken so many things I care not to list! It's not that he's doing it in a defiant, "I want to break things," manner, but more a clueless, not knowing his strength and still not connecting cause and effect-natural consequences, manner, that is coming from the quadruple whammy of diagnosis associated with those understandings. In other words, he doesn't get it and it's not for lack of my attempts of teaching him.

BUT, I'm not giving up.

I can explain how their daddy works to EARN money all I want, it's never going to sink in until they literally experience it for themselves. Of course I've had them doing chores. Of course I've used incentives. Of course I let them experience consequences for good or bad behavior. But to really understand the value of earning what we need and want, as well as how everyone must contribute and everyone is needed, they need the fully packed visual.

All of these wonderful props to the learning experience, were either graciously given to us, or I purchased slowly over a few years. I didn't even realize I had what would work for this, until just recently as I was lamenting over our lack of funds for such projects... as I looked around, I could see, it was all already here, and I didn't need to go rushing out for more. Some of the items are a, "make do with what you have," sort of addition, and that's totally fine, because they work! 

That amazing VW car and the superhero blocks are all from Zulily, and the metal initials are from a local second hand decor market in Shelley. That place is so fun, that you won't want to go there without money to spend, they've got so many awesome finds! The magnet board is just an auto drip pan from Napa Auto Parts from right here in Rigby. They order it in with no extra shipping cost and it takes less than a week.

I'm including as many links as possible, if anyone wants to add any of these items to their own accountability teaching experiences. 

PS- I'm not getting any click through income or discounts from them.

Que new program I'm implementing! 

A gracious friend sent me one of her sets of Accountable Kids and I've been so excited to get it going! Damon's current favorite color is yellow... so it blends into the wall. haha.. Oh well! Jace's pink is fun! Their pegboards house their responsibilities and chores, morning, day, evening, and weekly; as well as extra money making chores. Their play money bags hang from it as well, or at least until I feel like putting up separate hooks.

Inside those money bags- pink and yellow, I added seperate ones for tithing, savings, and spending. The money bags and play money are from Amazon.

I had my local Speedy's laminate all the card stock and play money... because I come from a family full of educators, and, well, that's what teachers do. ;) It required more up front cost, and certainly more effort, but to me, it was worth it. I am not a fan of purchasing several extra copies of things for my kids to immediately mutilate and me to replace over and over- higher cost in the long run, and certainly more wasteful.

Their vision magnet board isn't full of their, "visions," yet. I plan to have them add their goals of character, dreams, and such as we go along. Put too much on there, and these autistic dudes get too overwhelmed and feel defeated. That's NOT what I'm going for here.

I put prices on these, after I took the pic, oops! The My Little Pony set is $15 and the Callie hopscotch rug game is $20. (btw- there's currently a coupon for this cute item, dang I missed it!) I decided to round these up to the next dollar for ease at first, because I'm not using coins yet... that will come later when they've mastered this for a bit. 

Their incentives are from Walmart and Amazon. I hardly ever get out to shop in a physical store, ya all! So that they have a visual for that too, I printed the photos (I have no idea why my printer is all crazy printing in only blue.) of what they earn, actual dollar value of each item. I also deliberately chose items both boys would enjoy. This way they are rewarded together at first. Then as they get farther into it, I will allow them to chose items more individualized, as well as team rewards. I want them to feel the reward of hard work as a team first, to bring home the idea that we are all working as a family, and each member is needed to accomplish our goals.

Another little detail of how I'm doing this- I am allowing them to buy the items separately, or by combining their money together to purchase one item. I am doing this, because I want to also drive home the fact families share even their money. This will become important for them later in either this life, or the next.

Here's Damon doing a new, more difficult for him chore. Vacuuming is just mean for sensory avoiding kids. He is also too weak to really push it, even though it's self propelled... he's probably just plain too small. But he was willing to try, and that's all that counts! So noise canceling ear muffs, and daddy, to the rescue!

Happy boys, with earned money in hand!

I'm happy to report, so far, the boys are super excited about the whole project. And they've already decided, that they will pool their money together to buy the first two items, one at a time. Yay for sharing and cooperation!

Those Be Koool soft gel fever reducers are great for quick light overheating coolers when not wanting to pack around an ice pack. One of our sweet friends dropped those off a week or two ago.

Thanks to all my friends who helped me out with some of these ideas, you're awesome!