It's always funny when you learn something and then have to relearn it again. What fools we mortals be. ugh! Anyway, I was ready to organize a chore crack down. Then I read this article from organized home and slapped myself in the face.
So your children are at an age to be of help, but their idea of "helping" is lifting their feet from the floor so you can vacuum beneath them? The temptation is to declare, "New Program!" and institute sweeping, dramatic changes in the life of the house. Most of the time, the new rules only last as long as you are prepared to enforce them. In normal experience: less than a week. Life returns to dull normal, and you're back in the soup.
Instead, remember the glacier. Each year, just a bit more snow falls upon a growing glacier, but over time, the result is powerful enough to grind boulders into pebbles and scour mountain passes to bedrock.
Make changes gradually, involving children in chores slowly. This month, decide that one child will assist with pre-dinner preparation, the other help with clean-up. Next month, begin a Saturday morning family clean-a-thon. By the end of the year, teach the eldest child to do his or her own laundry, and put the younger child in charge of collecting newspapers, bottles and cans for recycling. By the following summer, teach them to help you weed and prune in the yard.
Gradual change has many advantages over the "You will help!" confrontational method. It gives you time to teach a child your household's standard for each cleaning chore. It involves children in housework more naturally, and in tandem with a helping parent. It doesn't require a noisy, angry family shake-up-and stands less chance of triggering a child's natural "I don't wanna!" response.
Gradual change also acknowledges certain human limitations. It takes 21 days to make a habit. It's extremely difficult to form more than one habit at a time. Your child isn't the only one whose habits have to change! You, too, will have the time to revamp your thinking and your practices if you institute change slowly but surely.
http://organizedhome.com/kids-chores-chilling-chore-wars
Today I had the kids pick up with the timer going again only this time I told them pirates were on their way and if the place didn't meet regulations the pirate band would take them off to their ship to tickle torture them until they begged for mercy. It was fun. We borrowed several Mrs. Piggle Wiggle stories, CD & a movie. I would recommend them they are cute.
The Fly Lady has monthly habits for adults. By the end of the year some really great habits are established. I have become so good at January's shiny sink habit that I shine other people's sinks without a second though. Working gradually on good habits is much better than being commando mom and frustrating everyone.
# January - Shining your Sink
# February - Decluttering for 15 minutes a day
# March - Getting Dressed to the Shoes
# April - Making your Bed
# May - Moving
# June - Drinking Water
# July - Swish and Swipe
# August - Laundry A load a day keeps mount Washmore away
Here are her 11 commandments too...
1. Keep your sink clean and shiny.
2. Get dressed every morning, even if you don’t feel like it. Don’t forget your lace-up shoes.
3. Do your morning and before bedtime routine everyday.
4. Don’t allow yourself to be sidetracked by the computer.
5. Pick up after yourself. If you get it out, put it away.
6. Don’t try to do two projects at once. ONE JOB AT A TIME. (I saw something on organized home the other day that said do you have UFOs Un-Finished Objects.)
7. Don’t pull out more than you can put back in one hour.
8. Do something for yourself everyday, maybe every morning and night.
9. Work as fast as you can to get the job done. This will give you more time to play later.
10. Smile even when you don’t feel like it. It is contagious. Make your mind up to be happy and you will be.
11. Don’t forget to laugh everyday. Pamper yourself, you deserve it.
I think some of the commandments might be good things to work on with the kids.
Best Wishes!
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