Accountable Kids

For Christmas, I bought the family a program called Accountable Kids. It is based on the principle of 'you reap what you sow.' It is a system that helps me as the parent clearly communicate what is expected of my children and that also has a built-in system of rewards and consequences depending on how well they obey.

I first stumbled across this program months ago online, and a few factors led me to purchase it and implement it on our home. By way of background, let me start by noting some problem areas that I had begun to notice in our home:

1. We had certain daily chores that we wanted our children to complete, but they hardly ever got done. I could have written them out, but only my oldest can read so I was really looking for a chore chart that included pictures.

2. Because of a lack of clear communication and consistent enforcement on our part, we were left frustrated because we didn't feel like the children were contributing to their ability. They were left frustrated because they heard much reminding (nagging) from mom and dad to get those chores completed.

3. We found that the TV was on more than we wanted. And the TV watching, though still limited, was happening whether or not their rooms were clean. I felt like I was regularly telling them 'no' in regards to the TV (if they would ask me) or turning it off to have them help around the house (if they just turned it on assuming it was okay to watch). In short, I was not in control of this aspect of parenting.

4. My boys were developing an attitude of entitlement rather than learning a positive work ethic.

So: how does Accountable Kids help in each of these aforementioned areas?

1. Each of their chores are on a separate tag with a coinciding picture. My oldest can read the words but my middle son looks at the picture and still knows what is expected of him.

2. Accountable Kids had a built-in reinforcement system. When and only when all of their morning chores are done in a timely manner, they earn a ticket. If they do not complete all of their chores, they do not earn a ticket for that morning. The same is true for afternoon chores and evening chores. The kids get really excited to earn their tickets because they can turn them in for privileges that they really enjoy. No more nagging-they know what is expected from them and they know when things need to get done. Additionally, if the child completes all the chores for a single day (i.e. earning all 3 tickets), he gets a star for the day! The star stickers are put on a card and count towards an extra-special date with Mom or Dad. Once they have 10 stickers, they get their date. So, in this way, the program provides immediate positive reinforcement (through tickets) and delayed positive reinforcement (10 days of a job well done). It gives them a goal to work towards and a celebration of achievement when it is reached.

3. The TV is only on when the kids spend a ticket to watch a program or play a video game. If it's on, it means they have asked me to watch it and that their chores are completed. It means I can be the one to tell them YES instead of no!! It means that I can be excited for them to enjoy the things they like doing instead of frustrating them!! They know not to even ask if there is no ticket that they have earned.

4. Instead of a sense of entitlement, my boys know that they must first do their work. They know that privileges are earned. They know that certain things are privileges instead of rights.

Like any other system that you may choose to implement, the changes that need to take place require time and patience before they are a routine. I will say that the built in rewards definitely helped my children with their excitement to participate with the Accountable Kids program. I would not say (as the video promo for the program claimed) that it takes "all the guesswork out of parenting" but nor was I expecting it to. At the end of the day, every parent needs much prayer for wisdom and much dependency on the Lord to undertake the responsibility of parenting. It is a serious yet joyful responsibility! Accountable Kids is a tool (not the only tool but the tool that we chose) that aids in the task of raising responsible kids. I give it a 4 out of 5 stars!

Product Review: ATG / Adhesives

A couple of months ago, I convinced myself to invest in an ATG (adhesive transfer gun). The link provided will take you to the online store where I bought mine from, www.cropandstick.com. (Excellent customer service, extremely fast shipping, highly recommended.) I bought the 714 model, which uses 1/4" tape (the 908 Gold is acid-free).

Many who read this may wonder if I'm insane for spending $40 for a tape dispenser and another $40 for 12 rolls of tape. I know. I was once a skeptic myself. Perhaps a little background may help.

I formerly used photo splits like this or a similar kind to work on my scrapbooks. Like many other scrapbookers know, they have a layer that peels off to reveal the double-sided tape. Those little pesky squares would end up all over the place! However, the mess of the photo squares would never be enough to convince me to purchase the ATG. Sometimes the size of the splits was wrong for my project. I would find myself cutting these little squares in half or even into fourths to accommodate my craft. Or, being cheap, I would try to double my investment by cutting each square in half, using half as much. However, the inconvenience of cutting the photo squares would never be enough to convince me to purchase the ATG. Then, to my dismay, I would find my pictures eventually falling off the page. OK...no more cutting them in half. While some brands were better than others, I became increasingly disappointed in the "long-term stick" of the photo splits. I knew I had to find a way to adhere my pictures and other embellishments to my pages that would hold over time. The search for the perfect adhesive was on.

I tried glue sticks which were okay for the lighter stuff (like letters) but wouldn't hold the heavier stuff (like, say, pictures) very well. I then tried tape runners. I had steered clear of them before, as they were pricier, but I figured it would be worth it if I didn't have to keep re-doing my pages. However, at the rate I was going, I was using them faster than I had 40% off coupons to buy refills. And, even one brand of tape runner did not hold well.

Enter the ATG. My mom has had one for a few years. Though I had never used hers, I thought it looked to bulky to comfortably use. But, I would hear her say how she had to make sure she had her placement right the 1st time--because it sticks so well that there's no re-doing it. There's also no mess to clean up. You just press the trigger while dragging the dispenser where you want the tape, release the trigger, and you're done.

At this point, I was convinced of the quality and the convenience, but the price was still prohibitive...that is, until I pulled out my calculator and let the numbers do the talking. For the price I was paying for the refills for my tape runner, it came to anywhere between 13 and 16 cents per foot of adhesive. Refills for the ATG (I bought in bulk to reduce the price per refill) came to (drum roll please)...less than 3 cents per foot! The ATG will pay for itself in less than 4 refills.

There is another site, thetapedepot.com, that sells a 12-pack refill of the ATG 7502 for only $18. There is some conflicting information over whether this particular model number is acid-free, but that would bring the price per foot down to about 1.4 cents. Bargain!

To get an idea of how long a refill may last, I have had my ATG for about 2 months and I try to craft at least a little bit each day. More realistically, I get 1-2 projects done 3-4 times per week. I am almost halfway finished with my second roll of tape.

So, my husband was happy that it would save money over the long run. I was happy because I found an adhesive that would stick over the long run. A quality adhesive at an economical price? That's what we call a win-win!

Summary:
*Photo Splits:
Convenience: C-
Quality: C
Price: C- (15.6 cents per foot)
Overall: C-

*Tape Runners:
Convenience: A
Quality: B
Price: C (13-16 cents per foot)
Price: C
Overall: B

*ATG:
Convenience: A- (the bulk takes some getting used to, but it's not heavy)
Quality: A
Price: A+ (over the long-run)
Overall: A
The ATG is very highly recommended for crafters who use adhesive on a regular basis. Only buy if you will use it enough to justify the cost over the long run.

Disclaimer: I am not associated in any way with Scotch ATG, nor do I receive any benefit from them or anyone else for a favorable review. I'm just sharing my experience with other crafters who will hopefully benefit.

Thanks for looking, and have a great day!

Product Review/Comparison: Stickles and Glitter Glue

About a month ago I bought my first bottle of Stickles from my local scrapbook store (LSS) and I've been so pleased with the extra 'punch' it gives my projects! A little bit goes a long way and it's an easy way to add that perfect touch. Well, the only downside I could see was that it was rather expensive for a .5 oz bottle (approx. $2.50) and there are multiple colors to choose from. I knew I would have to build my collection slowly or risk going overboard fast!
I was in JoAnn's a couple of weeks ago, and in the $1 bins right by the check out stands, I saw a bin full of Studio G Glitter Glue. The colors were more limited than what Stickles offer; my store had about 5-6 to choose from (and I bought 4 of them). They are bigger than Stickles--maybe .75 oz or so. It doesn't say on the bottle. For the price, I had to check them out and compare them to the Stickles. Here are my observations, and I hope they are helpful to you.

The Studio G Glitter Glue (from Hampton Art) does not hold its shape as well as Stickles--it flattens and spreads as it dries, and this limits its usefulness in some ways. It is also a little bit harder than the Stickles to control the flow of glue from the tip. I think the tip must be a little bit thicker than the Stickles. That said, I found a few helpful tips to work around these disadvantages. First, I have used the glitter glue almost exclusively to cover paper that has already been cut with my Cricut. This stops the spread of the glitter as it dries. In other words, I would not use the Studio G Glitter Glue to write/draw with but it is fine to cover letters and shapes that are pre-cut. Second, I found that it is not a good idea to just turn the bottle over and squeeze it to apply the glitter glue. This results in an uneven application--thicker in some areas and thinner in others with a few air bubbles in between. Rather, hold it upside down and let the glue settle into the tip. It takes a few seconds but it eliminates the air bubbles and smooths the application. Once the glue is settled to the tip, it is much easier to get the desired flow--squeeze lightly for a thin line or more firmly for a thicker line.

Recap and Overall Grades:

Studio G Glitter Glue
Value: A (more product for less money.)
Quality: C+ (acceptable, but limited in scope.)
Overall: B-

Stickles
Value: B- (that's a lot of $ for a .5 oz bottle, but a little goes a long way, and there are better prices if you search online.)
Quality: A+ (keeps its shape as it dries, able to be used in more contexts)
Overall: A-

Thanks for stopping by!