Lena's First Allowence

Ready to go shopping!

After the first week of Lena's goals we had to make a few adjustments.  We took "make bed" off of her list of chores as it was just too advanced of a task for her to complete especially considering she sleeps in a queen sized bed.  Secondly, getting a "pirate coin" at the end of the day for completing all of her tasks was too abstract.  She needed some more immediate and tangible reward for completing her tasks.  We opened up a piggy bank we had been saving to give her and began giving her a nickel for each task she completed on her goal chart.  If she finished all seven of her tasks she would get a quarter too.  Her other reward chart is now strictly for her pirate coins issued for making good choices.  This has worked out really well!  After a few weeks Lena got to open up her piggy bank and get ready for her first allowance shopping trip to Dollar Tree!

Getting the coins ready to take to the store.

Showing off her "gold tabloons" - three gold dollars

When we emptied her piggy bank Lena practiced her counting by grouping the nickels into rows of twenty.  She then traded them in for gold dollar coins.  She ended up with three precious gold coins to take to the store.  She carefully tucked them into a coin purse I gave her and we got ready to go.  Once in the store Lena was excitedly browsing the shelves.  She pulled items from the racks and chattered on and on about each item.  She ended up pulling several items into our basket and then she had to choose only three items to purchase.  It was fun to see what she was interested in.  She ultimately selected a heart-shaped Mylar balloon, a bag of ring pops, and a valentine snow globe.  The runner up items were a valentine goblet, a Sofia the First puzzle, a butterfly net, a set of ninja action figures, Strawberry Shortcake body wash, a bag of Cheetos, and a Scooby Doo expanding hand towel.  We then headed for the check out and she placed her items on the counter and handed over her three precious coins.  I think it was a good experience for her.

Excited about her purchases

Enjoying the "fruits" of her labor - a blue tongue from her ring pop!

 I am so proud of Lena for working towards her daily goals.  Some days she does better than others but she is becoming a great helper and I had so much fun with her today watching her spend her first allowance.