I bought 2 of these for my boyfriend's daughters. He was TOTALLY skeptical, as were his friends. His kids didn't really do anything - certainly without being asked directly. So I got these, not just for the girls, but also for him, to prove that kids LIKE to do stuff and be responsible!! So up they went, he and I agreed on the categories for each girl, and defined who would put the magnets on and when (we would do it as a 'family' each night before bedtime) and the 'reward' we decided after they got 20 magnets, a defined $ salary would be deposited into their 'account' (we just put a piece of paper beside each board with a running total of how much $ was in their 'account'. When they got 20, we took all the magnets off and started again! (btw - during the collection period, we did also reserve the right to remove magnets for serious infractions - like adding magnets on your own, removing magnets from your sister's board, or particularly poor behavior (being asked to perform a regular task (set/clear table) and refusing could result in a magnet being removed). We just finished our first 20 (it took 2 weeks cause he only has them part time - which also means we had to get creative and we don't use the 'days'). The girls loved it!! They totally got into it immediately. They make their bed each morning, have tidied up their room, bathroom and playroom with just one request, take turns setting and clearing the table each night for dinner, work extra hard to remember their pleases and thank yous (even remind each other!) and seek out opportunities to share and more readily apologize to each other etc... Homework time has also become easier, with the younger one asking for homework to be assigned to her if she doesn't have any from school! Again, these are children that didn't have to do anything - and were never asked to either. When we put the $ amount on their Account for achieving their first 20 magnets each, we told the girls they have choices now... They can save the $ up and eventually spend it (or keep saving it) for something really big/important, or they can spend part of it and save some, or spend all of it and have none left ---- Both girls (shockingly!!!) said they wanted to save it! We had them both set a goal - the little one said $100 and the older said $30 was her goal. Next time we go to the toy store, we will remind them they have $ to spend, and they can choose to spend it or save it toward their goal, but it will be marked on their account back home so they can visually see the amount go up and down. This is interesting to say the least - but Dad is now totally on board, and it helped that the two of us figured out the rules and how this would work before hand so we are a united front. For those that had trouble with the magnets sticking - this may sound stupid - but there is a very thin plastic film on the board to protect it during shipping - perhaps you didn't remove that (its hard to notice)? Our magnets hold very well Some requests: the days are great for families that have their kids all the time, but doesn't work so well for part-time families... So we covered the days with "Dad's Choice" and "Play with Pets" label magnets and put the stars above them. Then for all the other labels, we just keep a running line of magnets. It works fine. It would be nice if there was a spot to write the Name of the kid on the board. Agree with another reviewer about negative things "no whining" was an example. I kind of scoffed when I first read that in a review, but now I realize they don't work all that well. Kids will whine and tease etc... I'm finding the apologize to someone and sharing etc... are working better. Other than that- absolutely LOVE!
