Meeting Summer Goals through the Mason Jar Method!

I talk to families about how to make it through the seemingly long slog of summer. We’re in Texas and coming out of a stretch of 105 degree days! 🌞 Sometimes as parents we feel at our wit’s end on how to make it through.

We do the mason jar thing! (That’s what I’ve come to name it.) Its a simple concept, but concrete and tangible for little ones and big ones too! It’s sort of like building a visual reward jar to help kids get motivated on working toward summer goals – whatever that may be!

So the items needed: a mason jar for each kid and some rolls of quarters (or the monetary increment of your choice). Then as a family, sit down to talk about what reasonable goals they want to work toward. I usually just pick 2, (or 1 for littles and 3 for bigs).

Then you set up small, medium, and big rewards. For example, a small reward would be a quarter in the jar for each time your child earns it based on your goals. A medium reward would be like going to get ice cream at the end of the week for earning enough money. And a big reward would be like a trip to a water park at the end of the summer… you get the idea. Just make it creative and fun. Hint: make it easy at first so your children will realize their goals ARE achievable. This will help build up the momentum that they can actually do this! Catch them in the act of behaving well and drop a quarter in the jar. You may need to tweak and adjust the goals at first to be achievable if your little one struggles, but soon you will be teaching positive rewards, savings, money math and meeting your summer goals! 🫙