Earning Crystals

In our house the term "earning crystals" is met with much fervor by my three big boys. To them it means getting closer to choosing out a toy to "buy" with their crystals, to mom it means NO complaining about practicing piano, learning new skills, or taking on extra-large cleaning jobs. They even have an opportunity to earn bonus crystals for doing an exceptional job (the key is that they can't ask for bonus crystals, these are handed out by mom without their expectations in evidence, when I see a job well done). When crystals are involved they frequently ask how they can earn more. We do a daily tally of their crystal count, and they do their math to figure out how much more they have to earn in order to buy the toy they are saving up for.

Here is our "crystal center":

The piano is the hub for crystal earning.
The "crystals" are the glass pieces in the container on the left. The boys crystal tins are on the right.

I transformed some old hot cocoa tins into these fashionable, snazzy, personalized crystal tins:

The boys LOVE them, and have even personalized them further with stickers on the side, and Levi even decided that one "Levi" wasn't enough, so he wrote his name again in silver lettering!

This has been the most successful "motivational" venture I have taken on thus far. We are going on three months and the fervor is still at it's peak. The boys have been doing a very good job working hard for their crystals and love the day they get to "pay up" for a toy! (in fact, just as I am writing this, Ansel came in and said "mom, I want to practice my piano as soon as I get home from preschool....don't forget!" Now how is that for ultimate success?!?!?)

Here is the toy "store" located in our guest bedroom closet:They are high enough up that only with mom's help can the boys peruse the store. They are not allowed to touch until they have paid up! As you can see there are 3 tiers of toys. The bottom is worth 50 crystals, middle is worth 100, and the top is worth 150. (in this picture the middle and top are switched, the brown basket goes on top)


Here is the 50 crystal selection:

Here is the 100 crystal selection:

Here is the 150 crystal selection:

What has made me the most excited was watching the boys holding out for the better toys. They were willing to delay gratification for the ability to buy the more expensive/better toys. Now, if only that holds true in real life, that they can understand the concept that "good things come to those that wait" (and I would add: work hard and save)


Here is how the earning goes (for those of you who are interested):

1 crystal per piano skill practiced (so if great-grandma says do the scales up and down 5 times they would get 5 crystals for doing that skill the 5 times) --this is for all three boys.

5 crystals per 20 minute reading lesson with mom -- with NO complaining or messing around a mandate. (this is for Calder and Ansel only)

5 crystals per *starred* homework completed on time, neatly, and quickly without my asking --for Levi only. (starred homework is extra special/important homework due the next day)

TBA crystals for various special jobs mom needs done.

1 crystal per other skill practiced (this could be writing/ spelling/remembering to always use polite words/ tying a shoe/what ever mom things they need to work on)



The first day Ansel got to buy something for 50 crystals (he REALLY wanted a candy necklace...more than any of the toys available!!) he was so excited to count them out:


Here he is with his hard earned candy necklace:

Kaelan even loves the crystals.... for throwing that is. We have to keep them up and away from him, or I might soon be replacing one of the many LARGE windows we have around the house.


But the best thing of all is watching them really grow in their skills. They are getting so much more out of this than just a toy. I have watched their piano skills increase, reading become easier (including notes coming home asking what we were doing here -at home- to have Calder improve so much, so quickly), responsibilities become ritual, and my little young men become masters of their days and their time and see with their own eyes what hard work gives them.