WinWin Apps ~ Marble Jar App Review and Giveaway

Marble Jar is a little app with a big purpose. Raising responsible, competent children is every parent’s wish and with Marble Jar, it doesn’t have to be a struggle. Big goals break down into small steps that kids enjoy practicing. Choose a goal, set up a jar, and track your progress with marbles. Celebrate together when the jar is full! Marble Jar was inspired by The Parenting On Track™ program, which is all about introducing parents to concepts and strategies that enhance two things – the relationship we have with our kids and their ability to grow into independent, self sufficient people. The Marble Jar is an easy, convenient way for parents to anchor these concepts and strategies at any time of the day, ensuring that – before long – they are focusing on who their kids are becoming (not the mischief they are making) and inviting children to participate in life from the earliest of ages.

My kids really thrive on positive reinforcement, so I try to reward them as much as I can. Sometimes it’s hard to focus on the positive, rather than the negative behavior, but WinWin Apps have the perfect parenting app to help you keep your household positive and happy! Marble Jar is one of the better educational apps I’ve seen- I absolutely love their idea- it’s so simple, yet effective. You set up a jar for a “rewards” {can be big or small}, and decide what steps or things warrant a marble. Once the jar is full, the child receives their reward. I love it, because it teaches kids to be patient, and work hard for things they want. It’s a great way to focus on all the good things your child is doing, and keep your household upbeat and happy. Every family should download this app and start the Marble Jar strategies in their home!

Three Main Jar Types

1. The checklist or routine jar.

This jar gets completed each day. It helps you get to bed, or get out of the house in the morning. The goal is simply the last step of the routine: usually free time, or a backrub at bedtime. The actions are the steps. Bedtime Jar- bath, teeth brushing, pack backpack, clothes in hamper, tidy room. Goal: backrub

2. The Privilege Jar

This unlocks a one time privilege like a later bedtime, adding a dog to the family or getting a wii. Together you decide what actions it will take for everyone to demonstrate that they are ready for this privilege. To adopt a dog you might decide that for 30 days you will get up 20 minutes earlier (time for walk) lay out snacks for one another (to practice feeding dog) water the plants (to practice caring for living things) all without prompting. After 30 days if the marble jar is full your family will be able to celebrate with a new dog. Plus you get to enjoy all of that dog hair.

3. The “best self” jar

I am borrowing this phrase from the same kindergarten classroom that gave me the idea for the marble jar itself. I shy away from the term self improvement, but clearly I believe in it whole-heartedly. In this case you can use the marble jar to help frame the conversation about what it means to be a…good friend, caring brother, scientist, environmentalist, true collaborator. Then you take these big terms and break them into observable steps. Being a collaborator includes 1. asking questions 2. offering suggestions 3. deciding together 4. celebrating each other. 4. solving problems After you have described those actions you can all hunt for examples within the family. Maybe look for 8 examples of each action. When the jar is full celebrate with a trip to a ropes course.

Things that are Brag Worthy:

Great app for parents
Rewards kids for good behavior
Easy to use
Opens the door for discussion of family goals
Use marble jar to keep yourself on track, too!
The tangible incentive your kids are working towards may be a video game, but the long-term, natural consequence may be that they learn to cooperate, save money, play outside, respect each other’s property, etc.