Points System for 2010

I wanted to share how we have updated the Points System that we use for Princess1. Princess2 will be starting a Points System after she turns 3 next month. Her point values will be different.

Princess1 still earns points the same way. We haven't changed that. But during FHE one night, we were discussing Good, Better, Best. That evening as I was falling asleep (which is when I get a lot of my "revelations"), it occurred to me that maybe we weren't following that council when it came to Princess1's activities. It took less points for her to watch TV than to play with a friend. But which activity would I rather her do? So we started pondering how to revise our system.

We made a list of different activities that Princess1 likes to do and then assigned a point value for each activity. I then put it on a chart for her, sorted by # of points required to earn that privilege. Here's the list...

Free (0 points)
Read a book or the Friend magazine
Color
Draw
Play games
Play with Princess2
write a letter
Cuddle
Puzzles

2 Points
Play dress up (requires room to be picked up)
Sewing/crafts

4 Points
Play with a friend at our house
Painting
Bike Ride
Easy Bake Oven

5 Points
Play outside (requires a parent with her until we get a fence)
Swimming (we have access to an indoor pool so this is a year round activity)
Wii
Play at a friend's house

6 Points
Computer
Television

7 Points
Sleepover

We've been doing this for just over a week. Results - Princess1 still does not want to earn points but the tv has been off and that works for me. The only time I wasn't happy was during the snow days last week because it was too cold for them to go anywhere and we all got cabin fever without even the tv to break it up.