KID OF THE DAY

Every once in awhile, the family gets into a rut. The kids aren’t behaving well or chores aren’t getting done timely.  There are different techniques that I use as a Mom….one of them being “Kid of the Day!” I just implemented this back into our family last week when I was cleaning the entire house after a Girl Scout Meeting the night before and the house was basically destroyed. The kids had not been doing their chores….either had my husband and frankly a lot of the stuff lying around was mine from my meeting. I went into my son’s room and realized it was the only clean place in the house! It was time for “Kid of the Day” again.  I declared it. It was done.

When they got home from school, I announced to the family that he was kid of the day and why. Since, moving into our new home which is a different setup, we hadn’t done this reward system. It was a bit different in a new environment. I wrote “Kid of the Day” in a frame with stars around it on our dry erase board in the kitchen/dining room area and put his name inside and the reason why he earned it.  I never intended this reward system to be a sole disciplinary system. It was made to enhance being rewarded. I gave him a sticker as a reward, even though he is in Jr. High. You know what? He was smiling. As a Jr. High student, mostly negative responses are given to work being forgotten or activities not prepared for…..so this totally changed his attitude. My husband caught my daughter looking at the board later that day and saw her erase his name and write hers in. J She wanted to be “Kid of the Day.” I was straightforward with her and told her that she is always the last one up in the morning and to get ready. If she goes to bed and gets up and ready the next morning, she can be “Kid of the Day!” It totally changed the slacker environment around here. Chores were getting done faster and better. Homework was being done. Kids were asking to help with things. It is just a sticker and a praise….but everyone needs praise from time to time. 

We’ve done it in the past where the “Kid of the Day” has a pillowcase around their chair at the table with words on it. We have done a crown for the special person. We have tried where the “Kid of the Day” gets to choose the radio station in the car or the movie we watch. 

If you don’t have tons of children like me, maybe a family member of the day? Dads and Moms also like being told when they have done something good. Mom made a great dinner. Dad helped fix a bike. Both deserve praise.  It can also be chosen weekly or monthly. However, your family needs to tweak the idea to fit.