Austin Family Trust Project

On my YouTube Channel, I shared how we have come up with a fun family project that (I hope and pray!) will bring more joy and responsibility, while minimizing our frustrations with one another.

The above image is the chart that I typed out to visualize how the kids can earn play money, each day. You will see the red column displays how the kids will be charged for not doing what they are supposed to.

On our first day, the kids have earned money to add to their "banks" (gallon sized ziplock bags with their names written on it - real fancy, I know - haha!). We surprised them each with a free donut to get them excited and kick off this family project with a yummy sugar treat. They were given the chance to buy an additional donut hole at a $.25 charge. The boys each paid $.75 for three more treats and they still have play money left in their banks.

Ainsley took a big bite of her pink sprinkled donut and looked down at her bag with some "cash" in it and exclaimed, "This is so much fun!" I hope they continue thinking that way. Learning can and should be fun! After all, we have learned, as adults, there are some days we really enjoy our adult responsibilities and we have other days we do them because, honestly, they have to get done. The kids will have those moments, too, I am sure.

Their days are filled with a few hours of homeschool and learning opportunities, lots of time for playing outside or with special manipulatives and projects or games that we have invested in. Plus, they have times for chores, and learning life skills, that will help them grow to be better people, one day.

Check out the YouTube video for even more details of how we are doing this...