Consequence Jar Ideas: 32 Ideas To Stop The Sibling Bickering

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Here is a list of what our sticks say. We’ve had to tweak ours a few times as other behavior problems arose. I also reserved most of my purple sticks for my 5-year-old, because sometimes she just needs to laugh to get over the issue at hand. You can create the sticks to be color-coded for each child or for specific behaviors.

Consequence Jar Ideas

1. Take out the trash together
2. Give each other a six-second hug
3. Play one round of Uno together
4. Share your tablet
5. Read a story to the other person
6. Say 3 nice things about the other person
7. Make the other person’s bed
8. Grace
9. Choose J.O.Y.—Jesus, Others, Yourself
10. Sweep Garage together
11. Set the table together
12. Pray for the other person
13. Take the other person’s laundry downstairs
14. Organize toys together
15. Clean bathroom sinks together
16. Sweep and mop floors together
17. Load dishwasher together
18. Walk dogs together
19. Poop scoop together
20. Red Light, Green Light
21. Stair Sledding
22. Simon Says
23. Make the other person a snack
24. Watch a movie together
25. Pick up the other person’s toys
26. Do the Hokey Pokey
27. Fold towels together
28. Go brush your teeth
29. Burpee’s
30. Share your snack
31. Draw or write an I’m Sorry letter
32. Do one regular chore for the other person

Items needed:

• Popsicle Sticks (colored or non-colored)
• All-purpose Labels
• Sharpies or Pencil
• A clean non-sharp can or a mason jar

Method

Sit down with your kids and discuss the issues, behaviors, etc., and then ask them what kind of consequences they can do for each other or together. Begin marking them on the sticks. Explain that you will no longer be the one who will dole out consequences or break up fights—it’s up to them to get along. Ask for suggestions of fun things they can do to get over the issue and toss those into the jar as well.

When they resist the consequence jar

Remind them of why they have the Get Along Jar and ask if they would rather be alone in doing chores or if they would like ______________ (fill in blank for the ultimate consequence).

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For more of Heather’s great perspective on motherhood, check out Heather’s book Mama Needs A Time-Out: Daily Getaways for the Mom’s Soul.