Sometimes we agree on topics, sometimes we disagree, and sometimes we just figure it out as we talk it out. Sometimes, it’s all three! Which is in part why we think you’ll really enjoy this week’s discussion on the Spawned podcast about kids’ and chores. How do we get our children to do more around the house? Should we pay them or offer other incentives? What do the experts say? And do Kristen’s kids really clean the toilets? Because, whoa. Liz is impressed.
Plus, we have a fun discussion about the insane names we mayyyy (ahem) use for other parents in our phone’s address books — please tell us it’s not just us. And as always, we’ve got each of our cool picks of the week.
You can listen right here, or just subscribe to Spawned on iTunes and listen in the Podcast app that comes totally free with your iOS device.
Links from SPAWNED Episode 14
– The funny names in parents’ address books
– New York Family’s interview with Ron Lieber, finance columnist for The New York Times and author of The Opposite of Spoiled.
– Dave Ramsey suggests paying a commision for chores but no allowance.
-From the WSJ: Should allowance be tied to chores?
– Lots of cool chore charts, some of them completely free.
– The Marble Jar technique for managing screen time
Liz’s Cool Pick of the Week: Smorgasburg Brooklyn Flea Food Market
Kristen’s Cool Pick of the Week: Minion paper towels, and not for the reason you think
Thanks for tuning in! If you have any ideas for shows or questions, feel free to email us at spawned@mompicksprod.wpengine.com or tweet us @coolmompicks with hashtag #spawnedshow.
And hey have you left us a review or rating yet? Please do! It helps other people find our podcast, and well, it just makes us happy. (And psst..thanks to all of you who already have! Best listeners evah.)
Our 4 year old helps out as asked, and usually he’s eager to do it, but we’ve recently added that he can earn quarters for cleaning up. (usually about 10 things picked up = one quarter).
He’s been earning quarters for other behaviors we want to train (potty training and walking to the bus as examples), he saves them up, and gets to pick something to get with them.
He’s very excited by this.
When he spends the quarters we buy the thing, and put that amount in a savings account for him. (the quarters go back into our bowl to hand him for rewards again. It may not be getting him to save, but it’s letting him know that we’re saving for him.
That’s so clever, Sarah. So glad you found a system that works for you! And hey, he’s four, right? Lots of time to learn to save.
Potty first…savings later.