How much should I charge per pair of dirty feet?

Question

My kids are outside a lot, and they all love to go barefoot. Which means, they track in dirt and mud every time they come inside. So i set up a new rule, you either wear shoes or you wash your feet when you come in (I set up a bucket of water and rags right outside the door). This worked for about a day. So i was thinking from now on, to charge them per pair of dirty feet (50 cents for the little kids, $1 for middle kids, $2 for older kids). We already have a swear jar ($10 bucks in the jar per nasty word said). do you think this would work? am i charging too much or not enough? thanks for all answers.

i don't spank my kids for one reason only. a few of my children have been abused (while they were living with their previous families). and it wouldn't be fair to my birth kids if i spanked them and not the others.

they all get a small allowance every week if they do their chores. the older ones also do odd jobs for the neighbors. they have money.

Answer 1

I think it is fine to charge them for dirty feet. But also make them clean up the mess. They need to know that it is hard to clean up and they need to learn it for themselves. Cleaning up the mess will show them how to be responsible for their actions. They need to know why this is something you dont like. Not only should you make them clean their feet, but the dirty floor, and contribute money to buy the soap. If you run out of cleaning supplies before there is enough money. You should enforce a direct cost split between the children for the soap to be purchased.

just an idea. hope you find something that works!!

Answer 2

I like it! I love creative dicipline that works like "Punishment that fits the crime" - congrats for taking in non-biological children too - awesome!
I think the amount charged should make them "feel" the loss if the $ means something to them. What will you do if they run out of money? Will they have to pay that off later or how will you set that up? Something to consider. I think it sounds fair, even though I don't know ages or how much allowances are at your house. Maybe you could set up a reward system for a week or two as well - like 50 cents per time they remember and DO wash their feet!
Hope I could help! I've been there!

Answer 3

That sounds extortionate actually. Unless your children have an obscene allowance every week, then that really is too much. Instead of using actually money, you should try instituting a token economy. Have little slips of different coloured paper, each wortha different amount and reward good behaviour like tidying up, washing up, anything like that with a certain number of the slips. for every naughty action, take away a certain number of slips.

Then, you need to work out a reward system. Like so many slips is an hour on the Playstation, or an ice cream. That way the children learn the value of money without it being real money (although you could have some rewards involving money, like $2.00 of sweets or something).

Token economies work better than real money because you can't buy time on a playstation. Children will understand it better becuase it can encompass everything they enjoy, and everthing they shouldn't do. Just make sure that you keep a few posters up saying how much a task gets rewarded, how much rewards cost, and how much the different slips of paper are worth.

It'll also be emotionally safer than taking away their pocket money, and probably more effective.

Answer 4

I think they have to be told they have to wear there shoes outside or they don't go out. They cant get a reward for everything, and this is safety besides the piont of dragging in dirt. If they dont wear there shoes outside they woudn't get shoes bought for them. If they can wear shoes every where eles they can wear them to play in. As for the cursing jar that would be if you curse no tv or take something. There shouldnt be a reward for doing things they shouldnt be doing anyway. Rewards are things such as helped Mom in house, carry grocieries, yard work. My Mom always had 5 bucks spending money if you acted and did as you are suppose to you get 5 bucks at the end of the week to spend. If things were not done or disrespect was shown you got nothing. We could earn more money if there was a show or toy we wanted we would do extra for extra chores or helping others. So if we needed 5.75 to go somewhere but we didnt do extra we dint go. If we lost our 5 bucks we was broke that week.

Answer 5

Imposing a fine might not be effective after some time or not for everyone. I wld get them to clean up the mess and deprive them of things they enjoy doing as a penalty. (You need to identity what they love doing carefully). E.g. no tv for the whole week.

If they continue not to come into the house with clean feet, then get them to do more cleaning or additional chores.

If they cooperate, give all of them a treat during the weekends.

You impose punishment for failure to comply to the rules as well as reward them for compliance, wld encourage them to cultivate teamwork So the bigger ones wld be more responsible in ensuring that the younger ones follow. Incentives can motivate many people and work wonders.

We use this on my 9 yo daugther and somehow it is effective on her. All the best!

Answer 6

I'm sure it's just me, but I think 10 per swear word is outrageous! Do you really give them allowance or do you have a tab that you take into account before you pay them. It seems to me that you are trying to keep your money so you are charging them for every little thing.

I liked the idea of giving the ones who listen a small treat.

Answer 7

Why not put them in charge of washing each other's feet?

Child A needs to wash child B, B washes C and so on... otherwise a quarter goes in the jar.

Answer 8

Well if you don't spank (the quickest way usually but I understand your situation) then I would make them clean the mess up and at a time when they *really* want to do something else - they'll soon learn to stop and think and washing feet before entering will become automatic as is removing shoes for others but to drill that into them you must crack down each and every time that they "forget".
I/m not one who thinks that people should be able to buy their way out of taking responsibility for their actions but maybe that would work as you know your own children best.
Good luck!

Answer 9

Make them vacuum when they forget to wipe/wash their feet, that'll show them better how much work it is for you to keep the place clean. Charging them just shows them you can always pay someone to clean up for you. If they chose to rather vacuum than clean their feet, well, that works too (it's what I do; I couldn't get my two cats to wipe their feet anyhow).

Answer 10

What about just having them get down on their hands and knees and washing their footprints off the floor when they make them. It'll get old fast and hopefully they'll learn. Have them stop everything and give them a cloth and set them to it. Even the little kids will learn fast. Good luck