1stMoon Reflections

Summer is a great time to gather the family for some outdoor fun, but you walk out your front door and you are greeted with a lawn that needs mowing, weeds that need to be pulled and all sorts of things that need to be picked up. The view from the back is even more daunting. Kids toys everywhere!

Homemakers Central to the rescue!

One trick I learned from a friend with 5 children ranging in ages from 2 to 12; is the outdoor toy bin. In her back yard were 2 30 gallon plasitc garbage cans. Her husband drilled holes in the bottom of each for drainage. Every night when outside playtime was over, she set a timer for 15 minutes. If all the toys were in the cans before the timer went off, she put a smiley face on the calendar for that day. When the kids earned 5 smileys, they were treated to movie day the following Saturday, complete with a movie rental (chosen by mom to avoid fights), popcorn, m&m's and soda!

By setting the timer it makes a chore seem more like a game. You need to guage the mood of your children. Sometimes you can just tell that they aren't up to the task. In that case you can on the spur of the moment add extra incentive. "Just because I'm in a good mood, anyone who works extra fast, gets to go to bed 10 minutes later!" (or 10 extra minutes of tv or video games - whatever moves your child.

Make this summer one you and your children can both enjoy!