I’m always looking for new ways to motivate my kids. We swing in and out of motivation programs. One month we’re collecting stickers for good behavior at dinner, the next we’re moving sticks from cup A to cup B when we get through a period of time peacefully. This month, we’re trying out Marble Jar, an app available in the iTunes store. In teacher terms, we’d call this behavior modification. In parenting terms, we’re rewarding. But we’re doing it in a fun way that can be very personalized.
- keep each other calm (2)
- safe hands and bodies (3) (which translates into don’t get hurt or hurt anyone)
- stay in cart (1)
- load groceries (into car) (2)
- unload groceries (2)
- stay together (3)
For each goal, I can select the number of marbles to load into the jar. In this case, I assigned the number that are next to the goals. Little is the one who can earn the stay in cart goal, while all 3 can earn safe hands and bodies. Because the responsibilities take us all the way home, the reward, or goal, is a treat when we get home (usually a popsicle).
Because Marble Jar allows for multiple jars to run simultaneously, I’ve also set up an individual goal for one of my kids, as we’re trying to break his habit. He’ll get a marble for each hour he doesn’t do it, and when he reaches 6 hours, he gets his reward.
The kids and I can sit down and make changes to the jars easily, adapting their behaviors, goals and rewards as need be. As soon as we distinguish a goal it will take less than a minute to set up a new jar.
I also set up a jar for me. Like any busy mom of 3, I have areas where I need to work to improve in my parenting. So, for this week, I set a goal that I would “get down on their level and see the whites of their eyes” when I talk to the kids. Each time I remember to do this, I’m rewarding myself a marble, with a reward of a little me time after I collect 100. Yes. 100. I dream big. I also want to make this goal a habit.
Having Marble Jar as an app on my phone will be convenient because I can reward a marble from anywhere. I also like that within one app we can have family goals as well as individual goals.
I’m going to try it out for a few weeks and then report back with an update. Want to try it with me? Download the Marble Jar app and check out the Marble Jar Facebook page.
This is part of a compensated series sponsored by Marble Jar.
© 2011, Julie Meyers Pron. All rights reserved.
Twitter: nancy_horn
says:
That is genius! I want to try it too with my kids (though my little one should get the marbles for not eating anything odd. Tonight it was a dead ladybug.
Twitter: justprecious
says:
ewwww… The app is free! Grab it now while you can!
Twitter: TechSavvyMama
says:
LOL Nancy! I can’t say we’re working on not eating odd things but there are certainly lots of other things that we could use Marble Jar for!
Can’t wait to hear how things go with Marble Jar in your house, Julie!
Twitter: winwinapps
says:
I love that you are turning “seeing the whites of their eyes” into a good thing! And it IS. Also, you point out the importance of small, observable steps. So true. One of the main functions of marble jar is to help us notice what is ALREADY going well with ourselves and kids as individuals and our family as a whole. Talking about what matters to us, then translating it to observable actions, then celebrating when we do it is a good recipe to make progress and stay connected.
Questions for you and your readers. If pressed would you rather
1. Have the log in removed to make it easier to launch the app each time or
2. Make it so you can share your jars and completed jars via Facebook and or twitter or
3. Be able to send people marbles via Facebook, email, and text to thank them for something that helped you/made your life better?
Twitter: justprecious
says:
oh, number 1, definitely!!!!! I’ve been wanting to request that!