Using money to encourage good behaviour

[alfabetty]

What do you think? DCs are nearly 4 and 6 - 4 yr old is a bit uncooperative at the moment and as we have to get out of the door in the morning for school and work, it is all a bit fraught when they start playing up, and there's no time for the naughty step/time out etc.

So I have said they will get pocket money. But they have to earn it.

They each get 10 pence for very good behaviour, and if they are very badly behaved, I take 10p out of their pot. It is a bit like the marble jar idea in that they can see a reward for good behaviour and a non-shouty punishment that's quite immediate and over and done with straight away.

At the end of the week we'll go to spend the money each has earned on some stickers or a pencil or similar. The one with the most money gets to choose the shop we go to.

My only reservation is the idea of 'paying' them. But on the other hand, I'm not sure they are old enough to understand the concept of money per se, it's more adding a marble/taking a marble (so immediate and short-lived) with a reward after a period of time.

They like the idea and have been v v good today (day 1). Any thoughts?

Personally, I think it's a good idea. It's not like it's large sums of money. My DS is 7 and he wanted to get pocket money like his friends. So he gets 20p put in his jar for every day he does what is expected of him, e.g. doing his jobs, doing his homework/reading without arguing, playing nicely with friends etc. Like your DCs, he likes seeing it mount up in his jar, and it also gets him into the concept of saving. The weekly amount he can earn is only £1.40, which I don't think is excessive for his age. I think there's a big difference between this sort of thing, and saying "if you're a good boy/girl, I'll give you a fiver" (have heard this from others!).

That's what I thought - it's not large sums of money or even 'be good and you can have a Barbie', it's working towards a small treat at the end of the week. So quite an immediate reward or punishment in that they gain or lose a coin - and they seem to be quite keen on gaining coins at the moment. Long may it last!

sounds like a great idea to me - and it will teach them how to add up money - assuming they've been good