FisherKids sent me the spinner to review and it is very cool. First I was blown away by the packaging it came in. You would have thought that the spinner had been professionally packed, actually it was probably packed better than a place that packs things all day long. I was also very surprised to see that it is not just a piece of cardboard or something cheaply made but it is made to last in a frame that you can hand on the wall or sit on a shelf.
Our kids have actually been good this week so we haven't had a chance to really test it on the kids but I am so excited about this spinner. I am so impressed with this shop and our kids are at the perfect age to start using the things FisherKids has to offer.
I asked FisherKids a few questions and this is what they had to say:
How long has your Etsy store been open? Only a couple of months. I had another company that was keeping me incredibly busy, but fisherkids became such a passionate idea of mine with a very long-term vision (this is only the beginning of it all...) and I didn't have as much time with my family as I desired, that I decided to close shop on my other graphic design business and offer 100% of my attention to fisherkids and my kids. I saw the chore chart in your shop and loved it! Can you explain how the chore chart works? Background info first: The responsibility system was something that my husband and I stumbled across as we were "trial-an-erroring" with our own kids. We tried the paper chore charts, the magnet chore charts, etc. but something would always cause it to fall to the wayside: usually it was that we would forget to pay the kids on a timely manner, which reinforces NOTHING for kids, or it was ugly and didn't fit with our decor so we put it in a drawer and forgot about it. Or it was a system that depended on the parents for full implementation, no responsibility for the kids to follow through. So we decided we needed one system that focused on chores, accountability of the KIDS not the parents, and then financial management as well. We had so many friends and friends of friends asking about it that we took a huge leap of faith and decided to market it. So we sent it out to test families, and several prototypes later, came up with a pegboard system that everything hangs from and you can add to as-needed, and looks great on the wall. It's colorful and engaging to kids, so they WANT to take part.
Here's how it works: The whole focus of the system is that the family is a team, and must function as a team. So there is a weekly task magnet that you as a parent write their daily responsibilities that kids do to be a helpful part of the team (they aren't paid for all of these; some of the responsibilities they learn to do just to help out the family), and then one of those responsibilities each day is to choose chores that they will be paid for. The kit comes with chores sticks that are blank on one end for you to fill out the chores appropriate for your kids/home/family, and the other end is hot-stamped with "thank you" to subtly teach mutual respect. Once they complete the chores, it is their responsibility to write their "commission" (allowance assumes they are entitled to the money, not to earn it) on the paycheck tearpad, then add it up at the end of the week. This is their responsibility, not yours as a parent, therefore teaching accountability. On Sunday, which is rest and family day, they add up the week's commission (little guys can do tick marks and add those up) and it's pay day. When mom or dad pay them, they are to divide the money up into three money bags in the kit: give it, save it, spend it. Percentages of the three bags are all up to parents. The parent's guide booklet that I wrote accompanies the kit. But the pegboard is great because you can add other products to it and you can create your child's own little nook of the house that he or she takes full responsibility for. Test families responded often that this was what was so engaging to kids. It's theirs! If your house/budget can't handle one system per child, we do have add-on kits that will allow the board to support more than one child. It's not the ideal, but it's a bit more realistic. You can always add separate boards later!
*They recommend the chore chart for children ages 2-18.
Can you tell me about the spinner and explain the grace space (I love the grace space by the way)? I love love love the spinner! I was always hearing myself saying "if you don't.....then you are....." and it never made sense, or I knew it was a false threat, and I just became weary of it! So now, I just say, "or else you'll spin for it". So I came up with the spinner idea and it works great. It is mounted in a frame, so you fill in the blank spots of the spinner wheel with whatever consequences you deem effective (my favorite one so far was to empty our son's diaper pail for two trash days in a row....the girls literally gagged and freaked out....very very effective!), but one space is pre-filled in as the "grace space". It is an essential lesson of the entire fisherkids system to teach mutual respect, authority, and that we all need a little grace from time to time.... Humans learn from mistakes, so the occasional "get out of jail free" pass is thrilling to kids.
Can you give me one great parenting tip? Have dinner around the table as often as possible. We learn SO much from our kids as we sit down for breakfast and dinner, lunches on the weekends. If your schedules are so crazy when kids begin driving/sports/etc., sit around a restaurant table, then! Conversations happen that wouldn't happen otherwise! We actually designed the paycheck notepad with a different quote each week of the year to provide for family discussion topics. It's amazing to hear the kids' perspectives on the same quote depending on their experiences and age!
Buy It - The products FisherKids have to offer are wonderful for teaching your children how to be responsible adults. They are working on adding even more items to their shop so make sure you keep checking back to see what new things they have to offer. I also think they offer very good prices for the quality you get.
Win It - FisherKids is giving away a Consequence Spinner to one of my readers and they are even willing to ship internationally so this open to EVERYONE!
Mandatory Entry (this must be done before you can gain any extra entries) - Visit FisherKids Etsy shop and tell me something you learned from their shop. Tell me something other than what I posted above.
*YOU MUST LEAVE AN EMAIL ADDRESS WITH YOUR COMMENT SO I CAN CONTACT YOU IF YOU ARE THE WINNER.
Extra Entries (must have mandatory entry done before you can gain any extra entries): If it says (3) comments then you must leave 3 separate comments.
1. Follow my blog - (3) entries
2. Grab my button and leave a link letting me know where I can find it - (5) entries
3. Blog about this giveaway and leave a link to where I can find the post - (5) entries
4. Heart Fisher Kids Etsy shop - (1) entry
5. Visit http://www.myfisher-family.com/ and come back telling me something you learned - (1) entry
6. Friend Fisher Kids on Facebook - (1) entry
7. Follow Fisher Kids on Twitter - (1) entry
8. Enter any of my other giveaway - (1) entry for each giveaway you entered
9. Purchase anything from FisherKids shop and let me know what you purchased - (10) entries
This giveaway will end on March 18, 2010 and is open to ALL READERS including international readers. I will select a winner using a random number generator and I will email the winner. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email before I select a new winner.
143 comments:
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i love the story on how they developed the name for FisherKids
Their mission is based upon the proverb: "If I fish for you, you eat for a day; if I teach you to fish, you eat for a lifetime." I thought that was really cool how it tied in with the shop name.
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I heart'ed Fisher Kids Etsy shop under JamieElle.
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I follow your blog!
tonyandrett[at]aol[dot]com
I follow your blog!
tonyandrett[at]aol[dot]com
I follow your blog!
tonyandrett[at]aol[dot]com
The name plate that gives the child ownership to take responsibility for that space is an awesome tip!
tonyandrett[at]aol[dot]com
I have your button!
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I entered the body whip giveaway!
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I entered the spoon rest giveaway!
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I entered the Inspired Life giveaway!
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I entered the beaded silverware giveaway!
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I entered the Chippewa Creek giveaway!
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I entered the nursing bling giveaway!
tonyandrett[at]aol[dot]com
I blogged!
tonyandrett[dot]blogspot[dot]com
tonyandrett[at]aol[dot]com
I blogged!
tonyandrett[dot]blogspot[dot]com
tonyandrett[at]aol[dot]com
I blogged!
tonyandrett[dot]blogspot[dot]com
tonyandrett[at]aol[dot]com
I blogged!
tonyandrett[dot]blogspot[dot]com
tonyandrett[at]aol[dot]com
I blogged!
tonyandrett[dot]blogspot[dot]com
tonyandrett[at]aol[dot]com
Their name is derived from the proverb, "If I fish for you, you eat for a day. If I teach you to fish, you eat for a lifetime."
lejn05@yahoo.com
Follow your blog #1
lejn05@yahoo.com
Follow your blog #2
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Friend of Fisher Kids on Facebook (lena naef)
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Hearted Fisher Kids Etsy shop (momtoem)
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Follow your blog #3
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I entered the spoon rest giveaway
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I entered the body whip giveaway
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I entered the children's clip earrings giveaway
lejn05@yahoo.com
I entered the beaded silverware giveaway
lejn05@yahoo.com
I entered the nursing bling giveaway
lejn05@yahoo.com
I entered the chippewa creek giveaway
lejn05@yahoo.com
I entered the dinky dimples animal bib giveaway
lejn05@yahoo.com
I love where their name comes from - the proverb of the fish!
I heart fisherkids!
I follow on twitter @leafaro
thanks
i follow you with google #3
i follow you with google #2
i follow you with google #1
i love the concept of the store: "responsible kids ... responsible adults"
oanaiv at hotmail.com
Christina - xristya@rock.com - I learned about where their name comes from (teaching a person to fish rather than just feeding them)!
I entered your body whip Giveaway.
oanaiv@hotmail.com
i entered children's earrings giveaway
oanaiv@hotmail.com
i entered suds and scrubs giveaway
oanaiv@hotmail.com
i entered dinky dimples giveaway
oanaiv@hotmail.com
I learned that the name of the shop is derived from a proverb.
talonsmom731 at gmail dot com
I am a blog follower.
talonsmom731 at gmail dot com
3
I am a blog follower.
talonsmom731 at gmail dot com
2
I am a blog follower.
talonsmom731 at gmail dot com
1
I blogged about this giveaway
http://goyay.blogspot.com/2010/03/fisherkids-consequece-spinner-giveaway.html
talonsmom731 at gmail dot com
1
I blogged about this giveaway
http://goyay.blogspot.com/2010/03/fisherkids-consequece-spinner-giveaway.html
talonsmom731 at gmail dot com
2
I blogged about this giveaway
http://goyay.blogspot.com/2010/03/fisherkids-consequece-spinner-giveaway.html
talonsmom731 at gmail dot com
5
I blogged about this giveaway
http://goyay.blogspot.com/2010/03/fisherkids-consequece-spinner-giveaway.html
talonsmom731 at gmail dot com
4
I blogged about this giveaway
http://goyay.blogspot.com/2010/03/fisherkids-consequece-spinner-giveaway.html
talonsmom731 at gmail dot com
3
I became a fan of Fisher Kids on Facebook
Danetta Young
talonsmom731 at gmail dot com
I am following Fisher Kids on Twitter
@talonsmom731
talonsmom731 at gmail dot com
I love the "responsible parent, responsible child" very true, they go hand in hand
i follow your blog
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i follow your blog
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i follow your blog
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I have your button
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I have your button
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I have your button
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I have your button
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I have your button
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Friend on facebook
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I am a follower of your blog (1)
mandithomasson@hotmail.com
I learned about how their name came from the proverbs.
mandithomasson@hotmail.com
I am a follower of your blog (2)
mandithomasson@hotmail.com
I am a follower of your blog (3)
mandithomasson@hotmail.com
Have your button on my blog (1)
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Have your button on my blog (5)
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Have your button on my blog (4)
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mandithomasson@hotmail.com
Have your button on my blog (3)
www.thethomassontales.blogspot.com
mandithomasson@hotmail.com
Have your button on my blog (2)
www.thethomassontales.blogspot.com
mandithomasson@hotmail.com
I entered the body whip giveaway
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I entered the bubble bracelet give a way.
mandithomasson@hotmail.com
I entered Shaping Lives Pottery Give a way
mandithomasson@hotmail.com
They also offer the magnetic nameplate for the fisherkids responsibility station. :)
thecountryblossom AT hotmail DOT com
I follow your blog entry 2
thecountryblossom AT hotmail DOT com
I follow your blog entry 1
thecountryblossom AT hotmail DOT Com
I follow fisher_kids on twitter! KatyLMA
thecountryblossom AT hotmail DOT Com
I follow your blog entry 3
thecountryblossom AT hotmail DOT com
I learned the charts can be utilized for up to three children but they reccommend each child have their own.
Christine
dazed1821@aol.com
i dont know what heart it means but i added them toi my faves. i look forward to seeing what else they come out with
their name came from a bible verse...cute!
following fisher on twitter
I blogged about this giveaway! (5)
http://perfectbluemoon.blogspot.com/2010/03/march-11th-giveaway-list.html
Anna
perfectbluemoon@gmail[dot]com
I blogged about this giveaway! (3)
http://perfectbluemoon.blogspot.com/2010/03/march-11th-giveaway-list.html
Anna
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I blogged about this giveaway! (2)
http://perfectbluemoon.blogspot.com/2010/03/march-11th-giveaway-list.html
Anna
perfectbluemoon@gmail[dot]com
I learned that they follow the philosophy 'Give a mana fish he'll eat for a day, teach a man to fish he'll eat forever' and it's great thing to pass along to our kids!
Anna
perfectbluemoon@gmail[dot]com
Public Google Friends follower as jennem.
Jennifer, jennem22 at yahoo dot com
2
I like that they can make you a special lunch packer checklist that accomodates dietary needs.
Jennifer, jennem22 at yahoo dot com
Follow your blog on Google friend!
Krista W.
www.heavenlysavings.blogspot.com
Kwhiz84(at)live(dot)com
2
I've read that verse in my Bible! How fun!!
I also love that each kid gets a name plate!
Kwhiz84(at)live(dot)com
Follow your blog on Google friend!
Krista W.
www.heavenlysavings.blogspot.com
Kwhiz84(at)live(dot)com
3
Have your button on right sidebar!!!
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kwhiz84(at)live(dot)com
5
Have your button on right sidebar!!!
www.heavenlysavings.blogspot.com
kwhiz84(at)live(dot)com
4
Have your button on right sidebar!!!
www.heavenlysavings.blogspot.com
kwhiz84(at)live(dot)com
3
Have your button on right sidebar!!!
www.heavenlysavings.blogspot.com
kwhiz84(at)live(dot)com
1
Hearted!
Kwhiz84(at)live(dot)com
I follow fisherkids on twitter @mannabsn
follow on google friend (3)
follow on google friend (2)
I learned fisherkids is named that because their philosophy and mission are based upon the proverb: "If I fish for you, you eat for a day; if I teach you to fish, you eat for a lifetime."
mannasweeps (at) gmail DOT com
I love how there systems hold the kids accountable and how they have named there product! sarahespn at gmail dot com
I follow your blog #3. sarahespn at gmail dot com
I follow your blog #2. sarahespn at gmail dot com
I follow your blog #1. sarahespn at gmail dot com
I heart there esty shop! sarahespn at gmail dot com
Following Fisher Kids on twitter! sarahespn at gmail dot com
Fisher Kids FB fan! sarahespn at gmail dot com
There products are mind with us in mind to help us enjoy life more with less stress. sarahespn at gmail dot com
Love all your products great ideas. Rhonda
You have lots of fonts, designs, and colors to choose
from.
grin_mysticmermaid@hotmail.com
I hearted their Etsy shop!
tonyandrett[at]aol[dot]com
I'm really impressed by the children's responsibility station. I love that it is personalized, and that they care about teaching responsibility to our kids. I also like that you can add on to the station!
I follow #2
This company is striving to make life a little easier to help families organize there lives and keep the stress of everyday life a little more under control my using great ways of organization. This is great for people who don't even have kids.
I <3'd their Etsy shop!
I think the actual name is such a great thing! Sounds just like a regular family name, but then you find out the meaning! Awesome!
TaraTagli at gmail dot com
I follow Fisher Kids on Twitter!
@TaraLin
I love the idea of Family Movie Night! I like how she said she used Dry Ice when they were going to watch Shrek! What an awesome and super creative idea!
TaraTagli at gmail dot com
I did a blog that included this giveaway and the link (5)
http://thethomassontales.blogspot.com/2010/03/grace-and-forgiveness.html
mandithomasson@hotmail.com
I did a blog that included this giveaway and the link (4)
http://thethomassontales.blogspot.com/2010/03/grace-and-forgiveness.html
mandithomasson@hotmail.com
I did a blog that included this giveaway and the link (3)
http://thethomassontales.blogspot.com/2010/03/grace-and-forgiveness.html
mandithomasson@hotmail.com
I did a blog that included this giveaway and the link (2)
http://thethomassontales.blogspot.com/2010/03/grace-and-forgiveness.html
mandithomasson@hotmail.com
I did a blog that included this giveaway and the link (1)
http://thethomassontales.blogspot.com/2010/03/grace-and-forgiveness.html
mandithomasson@hotmail.com
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