Kids On Tuesday

Thank you SO much to the girls who have sent things in and to those who are going to!

You all have encouraged my heart! ;) Really! Thank you!

Here is a GREAT idea for a game for kids that helps out Mom too!

Jordan

"Soldier."

It's one of those days where your mom is "frazzled." It's been crazy and the house is a utter mess. You want to help out but you really don't have the power to do it all. How do you get your rambunctious siblings to help? They'd be good at it if you could only channel their energy!

Line each of them up. You are "Sergeant", and the kids are "Privates". Private Olivia, Elizabeth, Daniel, Julia, etc. Teach them the word "attention" and "at ease."

"attention!" you say loudly. They line up. "At ease." Then you proceed by telling them your course of action: The rooms you are going to hit. Maybe the kitchen and living room. Maybe two bedrooms. maybe the play room. Once you tell them what you are going to clean, don't change it and add stuff to it. They will quickly lose their enthusiasm.

Once that is done, give them a little job. I say little- because one thing that you don't want to do is tell Olivia to clean up all the toys, Daniel to get all the trash and clothes/shoes up, and Ellie to dust and vacuum. Very likely if they did that the room would be spic and span. But... do you truly expect that will happen? I'm sure- I can guarantee it- that they will lose heart very fast and start goofing around. It won't work!!! So give them little jobs. "Private Olivia- you take those books and put them straight up on the shelf." "Private Ellie, you take those doll clothes and put them in the basket in your room." "Private Daniel, you see those crayons on the floor? Go put them in the crayon box." They aren't big jobs and can be accomplished very fast. Then you say, "Go!" Everyone salutes and runs off. Once they finish their job they run back and stand in attention. Once everyone is back, (Make sure you do not complain if someone is slower than the others as long as he is being thorough! Oh. And don't think that you can just sit back and read a book while they are working hard. No way!!! While they are working, find something small to do that requires an older person, such as organizing some school books or cleaning off a high shelf. Or help one of the kids with their job of they are having trouble.

Give them all one more job, and repeat till the room is clean. One messy room- and I mean messy- can be completely cleaned and vacuumed/swept in less than twenty minutes as long as you make it fun and don't nag. Offer rewards too if you are having trouble, such as a craft, or maybe- (This really works well!) a small piece of candy. Another really good incentive is a movie(s). That really aids when you are going to tackle a few rooms with your "troop." Make sure you ask your parents. (Although most of the time, when I ask mom, "If I get the kids to clean up the frontroom, kitchen, and playroom, can they have ----?" She won't say no=D

Well, all of you big sisters out there- round up your siblings and get to work- make your mom's day!

Ashlyn Y. IL