Works for Me Wednesday

It has been so long since I have participated in WFMW!!! I have been doing something since school started that has really helped our family. I typed out a "routine" for my children. Actually I typed up several. One is a "Morning Routine" another is the "After School Routine" and the final one is the "Bedtime Routine." Each of these routines are a list of what they need to do at a particular time. Everyone has a mental list, but instead of having to repeat myself 300 times each day, now when the kids forget what to do I just tell them to go check the chart. I not only put the job in words, but I also found clip-art to go with each job so that my preschooler can 'read' the list as well.

I also made up a chore chart so that each child has a specific chore to do each day. We all help to tidy up the living room, patio (their toy room) and the dining room each day...but the chore chart gives them a specific job. I do not give the children an allowance (at this point), their chores are just their responsibility to help the family and keep our home nice. If they choose to do a chore that is not assigned to anyone else on that specific day (like vacuum or sweep when it is not assigned for that day) they can earn extra money (I pay a quarter per extra chore...if it is done correctly!). This way the kids learn the responsibility of doing something just because it is expected, but they also learn that if they go above and beyond, they are rewarded.

I printed out my lists and put them in plastic sheet protectors and posted them in the bathroom. We use a dry-erase marker to X out the chores that are done for the week. They are made in publisher, but if anyone would like a copy, I'd be happy to try to email it to you!

Routines are what work for me!

Works for Me Wednesday

HOWDY!!! Well, I have two things to share today for Works for me Wednesday.

First off...play dough! My kiddos love to play with the stuff, but I was always worried that they would scratch my table with the cookie cutters. Plus, play dough leaves an icky residue on the table. Now, when my kids want to create, they just pull out a place mat (the plastic with foam type, cushioned!) and create away! This keeps my table clean and protected, plus they can hold up their creations for pictures.

My second WFMW tip is a trip (or any special occasion) countdown. I used to use paper chains, but that didn't always seem to work. If we forgot to take a link off, we were off a day, and I don't always have colored paper around to make the chain. So...we write our countdown on the bathroom mirror. We use a dry-erase marker, so we just use a tissue to wipe off the current day. Every evening when brushing their teeth, the kids take turns to wipe off the day. Of course then we have to count to make sure we know EXACTLY how many days till the special event. It's a fun way to keep track, plus no more questions about how many days until....I tell them to just go look at the mirror!

Well, that's what works for me! Head on over to Rocks in My Dryer for more great ideas!

This is my first Works-for-me-Wednesday...so here goes!

I decided at the beginning of the summer, that my kiddos were going to have limits on their TV time and computer time. I didn't want to spend all summer telling them that they had watched enough tv, or been on the computer long enough. I knew that whining would ensue! So...I printed up two little tickets for each child, one Computer Ticket and one TV Ticket. Each ticket is worth 30 minutes of time. The computer ticket can be broken up into time increments if they want (play 15 minutes now, 15 later...etc) and can be used for our Wii or the computer. The TV ticket is worth one show or video...but only 30 minutes! If they want to watch a full length movie, they must combine their tickets! This way each child gets to pick one show each day. They get to watch a total of 90 minutes of TV. They can also share their computer time if there is a game they want to play 2 players...but it's their time that is clicking away. I keep a kitchen timer on the computer desk to keep track of the time.

Once the child has played their computer time, or picked their TV show, they give me the ticket. The tickets are kept on clips on the fridge...so each morning I just replace them. Oh...and they can't use their tickets until their morning jobs are done. They must have their beds made, be dressed, and rooms must be picked up (which isn't usually a problem since they are supposed to be picked up before they go to bed).

This has eliminated so much whining! No more "Mom, PLEASE, just one more show!!!" or "But he/she got to play longer than me!!!" Nope...just hand over the ticket and the choice is made. Plus, if they misbehave or act disrespectful, the punishment is that they loose a ticket for today (if they've already used today's tickets, they loose tomorrow's). This has worked so well for me!! Hope someone can use it, too! I'd love to hear if someone uses this and it helps their family!

Check out Rocks-In-My-Dryer for more WFMW!