Soupdragon - I don't 'know' you, but wanted to say thanks ....

[Glassofwine]

apparently the pasta in the jar trick is your invention. Have adopted it for the past two weeks with three children and it's been working fantastically.

DD1 - age 7 - has been going to bed without messing about, getting up in the morning without moaning and getting dressed straight away. Doing her homework on the day she gets it and with out moaning and many many more

DD2 - age 4 - has been the same as DD1 for the bed and dressing stuff, but also has cleanknickers as she is finally wiping herself properly! Is finally able to do her own carseat belt and has learnt to ride a bike

DS1 - age 3 - also gets dressed straight away am, can do his seatbelt, puts on his shoes without whinging, generally better at whinging, no longer punches his sister and doesn't get up early any more.

thank you, thank you,thank you

whats all this?????

Ooh please pass on pasta in jar trick?

Oh, I stole it from someone else It's only "mine" in so far as I put it in as a MN tip to enter a competition I think. But I'm happy to take credit for your children's perfect behaviour. Snort!

Basic Method: Every Saturday DSs get 5 pieces of pasta in a jar. Each one = 10p pocket money. Through the week they can earn more or have it taken away. on Saturday we count the pasta and exchange for 10p pieces.

We've gone slightly more complicated in that we give green pieces of pasta = +10p and red pieces = -10p. This allows for the concept of negative pocket money where they have to pay me . I introduced this because if they got to 1 piece of pasta left or none, there was no real threat.

Out of interest - why do you use pasta rather than actual 10p pieces?

It's the whole swapping them for money bit they seem to like. And you can hiss "PASTA" at your children in public rather than "I'm going to take money away/give you money if you do X for me" Sounds more wholesome

It's not very MN, but we have one sweetie for each piece of pasta - Saturday is sweetie day

Working a treat here as well.

I have been known to bend down in public and hiss , the word Passssssssssssssta in his ear, the effect is amazing.

And I thought my hissing was original.

Wonder if it would work with my 2 they are interested in pocket money atm

PMSL at hissing pasta! Totally get it now and lovin it!

"pasta" is such a fab word to hiss menacingly too.

Sorry Sherlock, I think the person I stole it from hissed too!

oooooohh love it! will try anything on dd at minute!

i bet they wee themselves at spaghetti...

pmsl at 'paaaasta'. i'm bulk buying for a year's time.

My kids don't get treats, I EXPECT them to behave and if they don't I have an electric cowprod!

this is brilliant! I cannot wait to use it with DD. thanks.