The extreme heat and lazy summer days have bred some bad habits in our home. In the past we have tackled the habits of television and computer with tokens. This year it was important to get the electronics back into control and also begin teaching basic checking.
It all began with a closed account. I had almost 1000 checks left over and no idea what to do with them. They became the inspiration for the ‘Bucks Banking System.’ I sat down and made a chart of activities that the children could do to earn bucks and also things that could be done to be fined bucks.
My husband got involved by picking up some registers from the bank. He also has some suggestions for additional fines or benefits from the bucks. Then the game began.
1. At the end of each week the bucks are tallied and a ‘check’ is issued to the child in that amount. Each child is responsible for recording the deposit and also keeping the register balanced.
2. First thing each morning each child writes a check for the amount that was spent the day before – including any fines that were accumulated. Television and computer costs one buck per 30 minutes of use.
3. At the end of the month the children will have the opportunity to cash in unused bucks for special activities – like putt-putt with dad or a trip to the bowling alley.
4. The end of the month will also bring a ‘bank statement’ to each child. We will then work through the task of balancing a check book with the statement.
Since firs beginning the game the children have gone from uncountable hours in front of the television to usually less than two hours. Instead of watching television or playing computer games, they are drawing pictures, reading books and making crafts.
They are also getting use to writing out checks, keeping a running balance and also working with statements. By the time they open their first account they should be ready to hit the ground running.