for goodness sake: point jars

I love this reward system. It is easy to understand, visual and teaches that good stuff really adds up. I have used it since my oldest was barely four and it works wonderfully! I have shared the idea with many friends, sisters and fellow-moms in search of a reward program for kids. Keep reading if you want to learn how it works.

To make the Point Jars...

super cheap supplies:
foam shapes (medium-size shapes work best)
empty jar
label
crayons

lickity split steps:
Have your kiddo decorate his own label, then stick it to the jar. Keep it in a visible place. This is how it works...

Every time your kiddo does what he's asked, goes the extra mile, is helpful, extra good, etc. give him two points. The points are actually foam shapes which are cheap, kids don't try to eat them, an you don't have to worry about keeping loose change handy!

Unless your kiddo is perfect, he'll likely slip up and ignore you or tease his brother, etc. so when something less than good happens, simply remove one point from the jar.

This teaches: good counts double, the good things that he does matter more and get more attention. Very clearly: Good is better! Misbehavior and acting up loses a hard-earned point, but lets them know good behavior is still worth more than the bad, which is why only one point is lost. This method helps you as a parent focus on the positive and allows a very visual tool for your child to see how all those good {or bad!} things add up.

reward time:
Set a goal for what you'd like to use the points for... it can be for a trip to Lagoon, spending money for ToysRUs, going to see a movie in the theater, earning some extra dough for video games... whatever you and your child decide on. You set the amount. I love to use it to diffuse the high anticipation of holidays and vacations as well. I came up with this system about a month before a trip to Disneyland and it worked so well we kept it up. My kids seem to act up a bit more during times like these, so I use the point jar to motivate them to keep up the good stuff, and with all those points they earn they can get a cool souvenir or an extra package under the tree.

bread for baking

Let the aroma of fresh, wonderful bread fill your kitchen with this fool-proof, delicious and perfectly textured bread. Don't shy away from making bread if you are an amateur... it really will turn out and impress your taste buds!

The recipe is my sweet Aunt Lynne's from our family cookbook, with my own tiny little tweeks.

what you'll need:
3 cups super hot water
1/4 cup butter
1/3 cup sugar
1 tbsp. sea salt
1/2 can evaporated milk
2 tbsp. yeast
7-8 cups flour (I use unbleached, it's healthier. You can use half wheat and half white flour for the recipe depending upon your preference, but all white is the tastiest!)

super simple steps:
Put hot water in a mixing bowl (use a KitchenAid or Bosch type mixer). Add butter, sugar and salt to the hot water and wait until the butter melts. Add evaporated milk, then sprinkle the yeast and beat together. Let raise for 10 minutes, then beat again. Add 7 cups of flour and beat using a dough hook. Keep in in the bowl and let rise until double (about 30 minutes), then beat again. Sitting that long allows the flour to soak up the moisture so you can determine if you need more flour. You can add up to a cup more. Too much flour dries out the bread. The dough will slightly stick to your finger but should clean sides of bowl.


Let it rise until double once again, then split it into thirds, and form it into loaves. Use non-stick cooking spray on your bread pans. Cover with a towel and let raise for 30 minutes.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and rub the tops with butter, then turn the loaf out of the pan to cool. Makes 3 delicious loaves!