Using Disney trip to discipline kids

[ErinInCT]

Does anyone have any good advice to use a Disney trip to discipline a child. I don't mean "If you disobey we won't go to Disney" (already have most of the trip paid for!!), but using something as a reward for good behavior.

For example:
I set up 2 jars, one with pennies in it & another empty jar with Princess stickers on it. I told dd4 that if she keeps her room clean (mainly picks up all the Barbie stuff), she can get a penny. I don't remind her, I just check at then end of the day when she is getting ready for bed & if the Barbies are out she doesn't get a penny. I showed her a pressed penny & told her she can get a pressed penny for the ones she earns (well, I have 187 days until the trip which is a lot of pennies so I may start taking out pennies once she accumulates some if she doesn't put away the Barbies!) Once she gets a bit older I may give her more responsibilities and she can earn the quarters for the penny machines too.

Has anyone used any other ideas like this? I know there are a lot of creative DIS'ers out there!!

 

[ahutton]

We have a reward system that tracks simple things for our older DD (who is 4) - did she put her shoes away, follow instructions, good in school... I listed these on a reward chart I bought at Office Max and when she does them I put a sticker in the row. When a row is filled (7days) then we make a special craft project of Caitlyn Currency with characters, stickers and she colors and decorates them. She can then trade them for trinkets at WDW or special privledges like picking where we go next.

 

[mudnuri]

we have a giant white board in our kitchen, (mom central)...and it has 4 different things DD's have to do each day without reminders....make bed before school....homework IMMEDIATLY after snack (right when they get home)...bedrooms picked up each night...and laundry put away promptly...read- immediatly...DD's are suppose to do all of this stuff on a daily basis anyway, but I always had to remind them.

now- if they do each of these for different lengths, homework is 5 days in a row, the rest are 7...they earn $1.25 disney dollars each...in a week, they earn $5.00

i can take away disney dollars at my discrection...and I have, for arguing with eachother, bickering, whiney behavior etc... these are all listed on the board as "ways to LOSE them"..

I have a spread sheet on my fridge, with each kids name and the days...I check them off daily, then weeky updated the running $$ on the white board. If they did it all from when we started, and didn't lose any money, they'd have had $45.00

Right now they are at $22.50 and have 3 weeks left.

Brandy

 

[MomE@Home]

I make sticker charts for each of my children on the computer. I use Disney clipart that I found in the Links you can use section of TheMouseForLess.com. When both sides of the chart are filled they get a small gift(my DD) or $5.00(my DS).
I like your idea of the jar for pressed pennies ErinInCT ,I'm going to try it !

 

[scotthart]

We reward our kids for doing their chores and extras with Disney Dollars from the Disney Store. Not only does this keep them in line prior to the trip, they know that once we get to WDW they only get what souveneirs (sp?) they can afford to buy. Once they are out of money, they are done! Our kids are younger (8,4,2) but they really grasp the concept of "budgeting" a lot better now.

 

[rileyroosmom]

I have 2 DS 10 and 7. We have a list of light chores for each of them and a chart on the fridge. When they complete a chore (cleaning the table, making their bed etc.) they get a point (a tally on the chart). Four points = 1 Disney Dollar. I went to the Disney store and purchased 40 Disney Dollar, all ones. The lady thought I was nuts! I'm going again this week for another $40 but this time in 5s and I'll exchange five of the singles for a five to start the process again - get all that! lol - When we leave on May 7 they should each have about $40 they earned. Easter Bunny and family members will be giving a little more as Easter gifts! This idea really works - they like to physically hold the dollaras and they know what ever they have is what they have to spend. BTW - Disney store was having a sale, got t-shirts and towels on sale, one less thing to get at WDW.

 

[Schmeck]

In the summer, to limit tv/computer games time, my 2 daughters have to earn coupons. Each coupon is worth 1/2 hr of tv or computer time. By the end of the summer, they can trade any leftover coupons for money - each coupon is worth $.50 in regular currency, or $1.00 in Disney Dollars. That way, they get more spending money for our trip, but they can only spend it on our trip, if that makes any sense, LOL!

To earn coupons, they have to do their regular chores first (make bed, put away their laundry, set table, empty dishwasher) and then do one of a bunch of things on a list. That includes washing the kitchen floor (it's always dirty, since it's white ceramic tile, and the main entry into the house) vacuuming, walking the dog, bathing the dog, brushing the dog (it's the 100 lb. black dog that gets the white kitchen floor so dirty!)

I write on each coupon what was done to earn it, and praise the kids for a job well done when/if they redeem the coupon - something like "Wow, that was really helpful when you washed the dog, thanks for the help, and go enjoy Spongebob..."

Other coupons have been given for random acts of kindness, for showing extreme patience, and for showing true courage. I remember one time I gave my daughter a coupon for being brave enough to try a back walkover on the high balance beam, when she was 8 years old. She had been all upset and frightened to try, but finally, all on her own, got the courage to try it. I think she still has that coupon - she wouldn't turn it in for $$$!

Schmeck

 

[HaleyB]

Things even a young child can do (this was always the hard thing for me when my first was little, now I am on #3 and have a pretty long list)
Here is what DD did at 4 1/2:
Sweep the front steps
Put away silverware from DW
Set table with silverware
Feed a pet (dry food)
Water plants
Put shoes away
Put clothing in the hamper
fold towels
Dust base boards
Dust anything they can reach (mine fight over this job, they like the feather duster)

around 5 or 5 1/2
Match socks
Clear dishes from table
Vacuum a room
Help clean windows (with close supervision or you will have pools of windex all over)
Make her bed
Put away dry goods in pantry (we keep soup cans and mac and cheese on a low shelf)
"pick up and put away" (my son was overwhelemed by this until he was about 7)
Empty little waste baskets into the big one
sort laundry (this is a good skill too)

Now she will not do the whole list in a day or even a week, but she can earn a quarter for doing any of these things whenever she wants. Of course she has to also do some things daily, like make her bed and set the table (silverware only).

 

[Beth E. (NJ)]

We had a good behavior chart. They could get up to 4 points a day and then at the end of the week we totaled the points divided by four and then they got Disney dollars for their points. When we went to Disney the Disney dollars they had were their spending money for souveniers. It worked really well because they didn't say "buy me, get me" all through the trip and the money they earned was money I would have spent on stuff for them anyway.

 

[carone0318]

My dd (7) is in 2nd grade and I decided back in Kindergarten that when they started having spelling test, that for every spelling test that she got zero wrong, she would earn $1 disney dollar. Only spelling, not math because she is pretty good in math and really struggles with spelling. Now in 2nd grade, I also do the same reward for vocabulary test too. Again, this is a motivator because she struggles in these 2 areas, I do give Disney dollars around the holidays and she will get Disney dollars in some of the eggs of the Easter Egg hunt. Ds will too, but he is too young, not in school for the other thing. I will probably do the same when he gets older, figure out his weaker subject and only reward for that subject. It really has help dd.

 

[RIDISNEYLOVERS]

This is a great idea.

Do any of you have a oicture of your "CHART" to post here? I would love to see how they are set up.

Thanks,
Lisa

 

[Lollipop Mom]

My 3½ year old also earns (or loses!) Disney Dollars for behavior etc. We even finished potty training with Disney Dollars. He had been struggling with poop training for a LONG time. He finally got to the point where we knew he COULD do it, he just wouldn't. We started offereing Disney Dollars as a reward and he started doing much better. Once we started with that he lost $2 for not telling us he had to go we haven't had a single accident (knock on wood! ). He also has a chart of responsibilites which include putting his dirty clothes in the hamper, hanging up his school bag and jacket when we come home, putting his towel back on the rack after bath time, cleaning his room and putting his plate in the sink after meals. He can earn up to $2/week doing this. Between gifts, potty training and his chores he has enough money to buy the monorail set he's been dying for sicne our last trip!

 

[ILoveDiz]

My 6 year old son is having trouble with his behavior at school. He helped designing a discipline program. He earns quarters for the arcade at the Contemporary Hotel. His almost favorite spot in Disney. This has been a great motivator. He also loses quarter for bad behavior.
I figured this was a good way to start saving for my trip. Less than 90 days