This is not the post I had in mind for today and I have been sidetracked many days now from posting what I wanted. I will be back soon with an activity idea for the 3-6 bracket… But for now, this has been our newest problem and hopefully I have found a solution.
This past week has been louder at our house. And the real trouble is, it is only getting louder. Big E is yelling more often and louder and little O is taking notes. He now screams his displeasure, worse than his brother did at this age. I feel confident it is three ‘wonderful’ role models setting a fine example! You see in response to our children screaming at us, we tend to yell out – louder and louder to make sure they hear us.
This family is not yet at the point of a swear jar. Well, mama is, but luckily, it only is when I am yelling! So in order to solve my problems of yelling and swearing and help our children curb their problem we are starting a yelling jar.
At first I wanted the two adults and big E to use coins to add in as we yelled and donate it at the end of the week. But I had my doubts this would actually get the desired effect. So instead, I did a quick internet search and found another blogger was in this same spot and had a different approach. With each person having a different color stone, each person adds a stone when they yell. Kind reminders can be given to help someone remember to put their stone in, but no one else can put one in for someone else. At the end of the week, the person with the fewest gets to choose the activity they want to do with the family. Unfortunately, little O will not ever have his choice of activities since he is not at the age to put a stone in, but maybe, just maybe, we will be better models for him. At least for the first week or two!
Our yelling jar and basket of colored stones (all on my newly fixed sewing table, hiding my lovely Singer, with my grandmother’s embroidered piece):
The stones in there now are just for example! The jar goes into effect tonight. Wish us luck…
Muncie Mama 
lynn @ Maven of Savin said,
September 2, 2010 at 3:35 pm
Thanks for the link and GOOD LUCK!! I hope it works for you. We have slacked off and now that it is back to school, we need to resurrect the jar! Lord knows we need to! I am glad that I am not the only one out there!
montessorimama said,
September 3, 2010 at 1:19 pm
Glad to borrow the idea… the first two days are going well. I expect the first week the jar will stay low. The following week will be the real challenge. 🙂