Recently, Tom and I agreed that in order to have more quality family time, our kids were going to need to start helping out around the house.  As it stood, Zack (8) and Emma (4) acted like the world was coming to an end if I asked them to pick up their dirty socks.  I was spending all of my work day picking up after the kids (and including Tom, if we are being honest), so little of my own tasks were being accomplished.

I still have tons of tiny little squares to paint, people!  No, I’m not done.  Just shush.

As we were figuring out what responsibilities each child should have, an idea was brewing in my head.  If we were really going to make this change for our family, I was going to make it cute.  And use real change.  And put magnet strips behind two metal boards we’ve had in the attic for years and real change would stick to it.  And the kids would just collect their change (10 cents per task – $7/week if they do everything they are supposed to) at the end of the week put it into their piggy banks.  And I was an awesome genius!

Well, until Tom pointed out to me that dimes aren’t magnetic.  Neither are pennies, nickels, quarters, 50-cent pieces, dollar coins, or any other random piece of change that the Toothfairy or your grandmother gives you.  Doh!  That’s too bad, because that was a fantastic idea.

Back to the drawing board I went.  I never could figure out an easy (and inexpensive) way to have a magnetic board where the kids collect their change at the end of the week (I could have used jars, but I was determine to make it a chart).  However, I think I figured out the next best thing:  penny magnets.  And now I don’t have to have endless amounts of change sitting around the house each week.

I call it the “Make a Change” chore chart.  I  crack myself up.

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