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| Contracts4Kids & Teens |
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Welcome To Contracts4teens&kids! Contracts4teens&kids are helping parents set behaviour boundarieswith their teens and pre-teens using simple, fill-in-the-blank agreements. Contracts4teens&kids are very simple to use, fill-in-the-blank, agreements which cover a wide variety of important health, safety, social and educational issues. We think you will find that these contracts are one of the most important things that you and your child will ever agree to. We also think your investment (time and money) in these agreements will be one of the best investments you ever made. For a limited period we are giving you some of the Contracts FREE of CHARGE. Simply click to download :-
Contracts4teens&kids are written in easy-to-understand language, which clearly defines what is expected of your child and what the consequences are if they choose to ignore one or more of the agreements. Children look for clear guidance from their parents or guardians concerning what is right or wrong, and what will happen if they break the rules. Parents need to sit down and work on a game plan. Rules for the household must be structured and agreed upon. The rules need to be simple enough for even the youngest family members to understand. Consequences for infractions must be known in advance, must be fair and consistently administered by both parents. Many parents feel guilty about the lack of time they spend with their kids and don't want to have it "ruined" by disciplining them. Yet if you don't discipline them, the time you have with them can be very unpleasant. It is the creation of structure and order that will calm your children. The predictability that results is greatly reassuring. Does this sound familiar? 5:15 a.m.- The buzzing of the alarm clock startles you into the reality that it's time to get going. You press snooze. 5:20 a.m.-Alarm beeps again, but you still have plenty of time. You hit the easiest button, the big wide snooze. (Of course) 5:25 a.m.-"Beep-Beep" So tired…so sleepy… so justified. You press the snooze button. 5:30 a.m.-"BEEP-BEEP-BEEP!" Now the situation is serious. You spring out of bed, hoping the kids won't slow down the process of getting the day started. 5:45 a.m.-By the time you find something to wear, you realize you have no time for a shower and that makeup will have to go on in the car. 5:45 a.m.- your child wakes up.--Lunches aren't prepared!--You haven't had a quiet time!--Even cereal for breakfast would be a luxury. 6:00 a.m.- your child is dressed and drinking milk while parked in front of the TV. You begin to make lunches. It's 6:15! -You run the mental checklist…Any field trips or permission slips needed today? School fundraisers? Is it show-and-tell day? Library books? 6:30 a.m.- Shouting for jackets, caps and lunchboxes, running to the car. 6:45 a.m.-While driving to work you realize:--You haven't taken meat out of the freezer to thaw for dinner. --You never called your mother back.--There's a sink full of dishes--And your husband is down to his last pair of clean underwear. 7:45 a.m.-After applying haphazard makeup in the car, you head into work feeling like you put in a day's work…before you put in a day's work. To be honest, even this was a pretty smooth morning. The car didn’t break down, none of the kids were sick, the family dog didn't dart out the door, and no one needed extra cuddle time. To top it off, the mother made it into work on time…with her makeup on! Have I gotten your attention? Does this typical morning scenario remind you of someone you know? Chances are that it does because that someone is you! Don't despair; we can help with Contracts4teens&kids. Lets get started. What do you need:
Our aim is to hear the following: …"my kids are reading at least twice as long as before"……"acting more responsibly"……"will benefit them the rest of their lives"……"simplest, most effective parenting tool"… * We want you to teach your children values and skills that will help them now and later in life Contracts4teens&kids is a revolutionary web service that helps you create a thoughtful and sustainable allowance and responsibilities system for your kids. We provide easy-to-use tools and an easy-to-maintain process to help you teach your kids, as part of everyday life, about responsibility, values, making choices and appreciating things. Contracts4teens&kids is designed to be quick and easy to use, while giving you the flexibility to suit your family's needs. Step 1 - Set up * Log onto www.reshapemylife.co.za * Purchase responsibility checklists for each child on the fridge padz page of this website * Purchase the contracts and determine allowance for each child by creating a mini-budget (you can get this, too, from our website on the fridge padz page) Most of the work involved in set-up is considering and discussing each child's responsibilities and deciding what spending you'll shift into their hands. Step 2 - Weekly checklists Each child gets their own checklist, which clearly lists their chores (we prefer to call them "responsibilities") for each day of the week. Every day, they tick off those items that have been completed. You will “pay” each child their allowance as per their contracts. Step 3 - Reaping the benefits You will have a smoother running household. We find this to be an on-going learning process that teaches us all how to think about our family responsibilities, and how to communicate them better. The Contracts4teens&kids system helps you teach your kids about: * making choices * sharing family responsibilities * saving and working towards goals * appreciating what you have… and much more Making choices Letting kids earn their own money, and work towards their own goals, gives them responsibility, which is vital for learning to make effective choices. When they are spending their own money to get something new, your child will think carefully about the cost and value of each option. Sharing family responsibilities Many kids simply don't appreciate the work that goes into running a home. Setting goals encourages kids to help out in the home in a fun way, and also helps teach them to appreciate their environment. This process helps build a sense of pride and responsibility that will benefit children for the rest of their lives. Saving and working towards goals It's never too early to learn the benefit of saving. With spiralling consumer credit, teaching our kids to manage their money and save for what they really want could reap huge benefits when they're older. Appreciating what you have There's nothing like the experience of working towards a goal, waiting until the time you've earned the ability to go out and get what you really want. Instead of "How much do I need to whine to get this?" kids start to think, "How much do I really want that? What do I need to do to achieve it?" Of course, every family is unique. Everyone benefits in different ways. Contracts4teens&kids gives you a neat system to help you set up and manage your kids' responsibilities and reward them in a positive, transparent and fun way. Most importantly, using Contracts4teens&kids, you'll be teaching your kids about responsibility and your family's values - teaching that can only be done at home.
Contracts4teens&kids Addresses the Key Issues of: * how much your kid's allowance should be * incorporating chores * day-to-day management Frequently asked questions: What is the youngest/oldest age that you recommend using this program? We generally recommend Contracts4teens&kids for families with children age 6 to 16 - from “learning to read” through to “making their own money”. They recognize this is not just about the money - it's also about teaching values, and that's appropriate at any age. Younger children are usually more focused on the Responsibilities part rather than the Allowance. They often love to know they have an important role in making the household run well, and also love to tick things off lists. And even though younger children may not be too interested in the allowance just yet, they are interested in "having" things. As they grow, their attention shifts more to the Allowance side and the sense of empowerment it brings. At older ages, the Contracts4teens&kids process helps them to understand they DO have responsibilities as part of the family. And very importantly, you'll have regular opportunities to teach them about making choices as part of everyday life. Notice we said “usually” and “often”. Every child’s different and will be motivated by different things. And just to add to the complexity, whatever works today may not work tomorrow. That’s why Contracts4teens&kids has been built with easy-to-use, really flexible tools, so you can tailor it to your children as they grow. Is it "fun" for kids? Contracts4teens&kids is "good" for kids. Younger kids often love to help Mom and Dad around the house and they take great pride in shouldering important responsibilities....but unfortunately, they usually grow out of that wonderful phase too quickly. Older kids love to have the empowerment of having money in their family bank. But they usually prefer to have the money without any responsibilities (now there's a surprise!). So the answer is Yes and No. But this is about teaching kids your values, while we try to add some fun. No matter how much fun a game is, they will eventually tire of it. This learning is too important for that to happen. It needs to be integrated thoughtfully into everyday life and provide an ongoing opportunity for teaching/learning. That's our number one goal. How much does it cost? All relevant forms, contracts and fridge pads may be purchased via our website. The cost for one of the best investments you'll ever make for your children is individually priced on the website. Does this cover one child or all my children? Each contract may be used for more than one child, simply print another copy no matter how many children you have. Am I under any obligation? No. You may purchase any of our offerings should you feel it is relevant to your household. How much time does it take? It varies… Setting up your responsibilities and rewards normally takes about 30 minutes. After that, parents will spend perhaps a minute each day reviewing with your kids how they've done on their responsibilities. Do I need to install software? No. Because Contracts4teens&kids is entirely web-based, you don't have to install anything. You need to be able to browse the web, and have access to a printer to print checklists and family allowance slips. The fridge padz will be posted to you upon receipt of payment. ============================================================= Contracts4teens&kids : areas of importance. 1Driving * Reckless Driving * Destination * Curfew * Tickets and Accidents * Friends * Grades * Seat Belts "Here's the truth: For most parents, nothing you will deal with as a parent will be more important, more life-and-death, than how your teenager uses -- and misuses -- a motor vehicle" 2Substances * Alcohol and Drugs" Make your feelings clear. Children who understand the depth of their parents' opposition to it are less likely to smoke ... Help them say no." "As long as you have teenagers at home, it is your job as a parent to address the issue of alcohol use, even if it means painful enforcement of the rules. Although your teen may not admit it, the willingness to do so says, 'I love you' in a most meaningful and powerful way." 3School 4Allowance allowances are not tied to completing chores, but are given as a way for kids to learn the value of money, budgeting, saving and spending. 5Chores * Bedroom * Bathroom * Other Rooms * Yard Work * Trash * Cooking * Laundry * Pets * Dishes * Other Chores "While I understand their feelings about washing dishes, cleaning their room, and vacuuming, I also admit they need to do chores. Household chores should be a part of every teen's life. All members of a household should be expected to do their part in keeping the place they live, clean and healthy.""Chores are necessary to teach teens how to prepare for adulthood. Household chores also teach a person to have respect for their surroundings." 6Working * Responsibility * Behaviour * Priorities * Pay * Hours * Type of Job "Teens need to learn that when they are at work, they need to work. This means they can't fool around, visit friends or hang on the business phone. They also must learn, before they start working, to show respect for those in charge, and to do what they are told by their superiors." 7Citizenship * Honesty * Behaviour * Morals * Language * Clothes / Appearance * Phones / TV/ Computers * Volunteering "There must be clear and consistent expectations that youth will set goals, devise necessary strategies, make efforts and follow social rules. Time will pass and youth will grow into adults regardless of the support they receive. The question is 'what kind of adults will they become.' Positive youth development occurs when adults deliberately create conditions and opportunities for youth to become caring, contributing, productive and responsible citizens." 8Dating * When * Who * Destination * Curfew * Drugs & Alcohol * Friends * Grades "One in eight teenagers experiences physical violence in a dating relationship. Dating violence can occur in all types of homes and in families of all cultures, income levels, and educational backgrounds." "Curfews give parents a good tool to use in common-sense parenting. It is something parents can lean on." "Young people are not the only ones to be pulled in for breaking curfews. Parents can also be in violation of the law for knowingly allowing their children to violate the city curfew." 9Other * Curfew * Brothers / Sisters / Parents / Others * Outside Activities * Phones / TV / Video Games / Computers * Weapons "The availability of computers and Internet access adds new complexity to parenting. There is no question that computers can be a valuable resource and have the potential to enhance learning. The Internet offers access to a great deal of valuable information, and as parents we have an obligation to both learn about it as well as teach our children about its proper use." "Clear rules and priorities need to be established regarding the computer's use." "In my opinion, anything more than one hour (computer use) per day may be excessive." ======================================================================== Age Appropriate Household Job Chart* * The ages listed are approximate, and capabilities will vary depending on the individual child. 3-4 YEAR OLDS CAN: 10-12 YEAR OLDS CAN ALSO: Pick up Toys Clean mirrors Fold Dishtowels and Washcloths Clean kitchen counters & sink Match Socks Fold and put away laundry Put small items in the garbage Put away groceries Give food to pets Pack their own lunch Water indoor plants Light yard work Load the dishwasher 5-6 YEAR OLDS CAN ALSO: 13-14 YEAR OLDS CAN ALSO: Answer the telephone Clean the bathroom Sweep a deck/patio/porch Change bed sheets Wipe the bathroom sink Mow the lawn Put forks and spoons away Wash dishes by hand Put their own clothes in the drawer Wash the car Sort laundry into colour piles Do laundry Use a hand-held vacuum 7-9 YEAR OLDS CAN ALSO: 15 YEARS AND UP CAN ALSO: Take out Garbage Set the table Clear the table Clean the refrigerator Vacuum an area rug Reorganize storage areas Clean the inside of the car Make Dinner Empty the dishwasher Put away clean dry dishes Water the garden |
