Our house is not straight 80% of the time, but I have good intentions of getting to it. I create lists for each room, so the tasks don't seem so overwhelming. Instead of staring at the mound of shoes at the door, I focus on the bright yellow note (that I have passed 100 times already without cleaning up the shoes) and it seems like less of a task. I plan to tackle some of these lists by the weekend.
It's summer right now and our daughter is out of pre-school. She is too young for summer camps, and we are not the kind of people to follow the trend by enrolling our children in everything that everyone else is doing. Children do however need structure through out the year. In school or out of school, I honestly believe it makes a difference.
So along with daily craft time and outside adventures during the week, we created this Rewards chart. It gently reminds us and our daughter to do things like use manners and be a good listener. She has a rough time with that at times due to lack of sleep, which is why there is a written in check box for take a nap or rest. She did great in the 3 year old class at pre-school, but one area she needed work in was independence.
I drew each little icon down the side, since she can not read yet, to help her remember what each circle was for. This has helped her a great deal. She gets dressed by herself just about every day. It might be a sequin shirt and ladybug raincoat with hello kitty boots, but she's dressed and proud of it! At the end of each week if she has not received more than three X's she gets to pick out a sticker. Simple concept, great results! There is something powerful about getting a check for something. I know I feel great when I check something off my to-do list.
Yesterday she came to me with her own check list. (from left column to right column) Put her toys away, put her dishes away, feed the kitty, help herself, help her family, review her checklist. She made up the two about the cat & checklist. I think she just looks forward to those things... oh and helping herself too. Not sure what that one is, but it's cute.
They always say: "do as I say, not as I do". Children don't go by this rule at all, so we are forever trying to be better parents and better people at everything we do. Our goal is to inspire them and teach them to be more active, to make the bed, to keep things neat & tidy as well as appreciate everything that we have and not ask for more. Slowly but surely as we reform, our children are learning as well. We are so proud of them :)
