Kids and cleaning advice

[RevSmoke]

Do not, I repeat, do not tie allowance to chores. An allowance is a gift to them. Their chores are part of being part of the family. Everybody does something. As they get older, the chores get harder. For example, I don't want to eat off dishes that my sons washed until they were about 11 years old.

These are the chores, till they are done, you don't get... (whatever they love, TV/Wii/iPods etc.). When they are done, then you may do them.

Key though is consistency. Do not threaten and then not follow through. If you say, "I am not going to tell you again", or "one more time and I'm going to...", then the next time you speak about it the consequences better be happening.

I do a workshop on discipline in the home. I know the name of the workshop is also the name of a book, but I'm not sure which came out first. The workshop is called, "How to get your children to mind, without losing yours."

Anyway, God's blessings on this.

Peace of the Lord be with you.

[Ogre]

Originally Posted by RevSmoke

Do not, I repeat, do not tie allowance to chores. An allowance is a gift to them. Their chores are part of being part of the family. Everybody does something. As they get older, the chores get harder. For example, I don't want to eat off dishes that my sons washed until they were about 11 years old.

These are the chores, till they are done, you don't get... (whatever they love, TV/Wii/iPods etc.). When they are done, then you may do them.

Key though is consistency. Do not threaten and then not follow through. If you say, "I am not going to tell you again", or "one more time and I'm going to...", then the next time you speak about it the consequences better be happening.

I do a workshop on discipline in the home. I know the name of the workshop is also the name of a book, but I'm not sure which came out first. The workshop is called, "How to get your children to mind, without losing yours."

Anyway, God's blessings on this.

Peace of the Lord be with you.

Well put Rev.

[TBone]

Originally Posted by RevSmoke

Do not, I repeat, do not tie allowance to chores. An allowance is a gift to them. Their chores are part of being part of the family. Everybody does something. As they get older, the chores get harder. For example, I don't want to eat off dishes that my sons washed until they were about 11 years old.

These are the chores, till they are done, you don't get... (whatever they love, TV/Wii/iPods etc.). When they are done, then you may do them.

Key though is consistency. Do not threaten and then not follow through. If you say, "I am not going to tell you again", or "one more time and I'm going to...", then the next time you speak about it the consequences better be happening.

I do a workshop on discipline in the home. I know the name of the workshop is also the name of a book, but I'm not sure which came out first. The workshop is called, "How to get your children to mind, without losing yours."

Anyway, God's blessings on this.

Peace of the Lord be with you.

I couldn't have said it better...no really I couldn't have...

[forgop]

Originally Posted by RevSmoke

Do not, I repeat, do not tie allowance to chores. An allowance is a gift to them. Their chores are part of being part of the family. Everybody does something. As they get older, the chores get harder. For example, I don't want to eat off dishes that my sons washed until they were about 11 years old.

These are the chores, till they are done, you don't get... (whatever they love, TV/Wii/iPods etc.). When they are done, then you may do them.

Key though is consistency. Do not threaten and then not follow through. If you say, "I am not going to tell you again", or "one more time and I'm going to...", then the next time you speak about it the consequences better be happening.

I do a workshop on discipline in the home. I know the name of the workshop is also the name of a book, but I'm not sure which came out first. The workshop is called, "How to get your children to mind, without losing yours."

Anyway, God's blessings on this.

Peace of the Lord be with you.

Thanks for the advice...this is one of the tougher things we've had to deal with because obviously children have to get to be a certain age before they can provide real constructive help when it comes to helping out around the house. They're far from spoiled in the sense that we cave in to their wants for other things.

The other hassle is "it's not mine". I'm seriously ready to prove to them for a day that they miss practice because I didn't take them. After all, it's not "my" practice. Same with dinner-we'll make dinner for us and they can fend for themselves because it's "their" dinner, not ours. I think they might need a dose of that to realize everyone does things for one another and not just for themselves.

It's too bad my gpa retired from hog farming in the mid-90's. Otherwise, these girls would get a good dose of what my brother and I went through working on the farm for a little extra spending money. They'll find nothing around here is that hard compared to what I did for $2 and $3/hour.