What if you won a contest and the prize was for a genie to instantly clean and do menial jobs around your home for you? Sounds wonderful, does it not? A busy mother recently stumbled onto an idea that seemed like a perfect solution to her messy house. She had been extremely … [Read more...] about Which Is It, Chores Or Punishment?
chores
Appreciate Children’s Efforts
Instructions are important, especially to children doing a chore for the first time. When I was about six years old we lived in Daytona Beach, Florida. Sand was everywhere; on our floors, in our shoes and in our beds. I took it on my own to sweep up the sand now and … [Read more...] about Appreciate Children’s Efforts
Fun By Natasha: Bucket List Rewards
Parents never cease to amaze me with their ingenuity and drive to bring up their children to be happy and productive adults. Natasha shared her method for choosing and earning reward activities that she and her child work toward. Fun By Natasha: Bucket List Rewards This … [Read more...] about Fun By Natasha: Bucket List Rewards
Telephone Interruption Rules
“Rrrrring! Rrrrring!” That was a cue at the Ramirez household for the girls to stretch limits and my patience. A telephone is one way I volunteered for many years as a Helpline worker for Parent Anonymous but I was not one to waste much time simply chatting. When family or … [Read more...] about Telephone Interruption Rules
It’s Not What You Say— It’s How You Say It
We already know that lecturing a child does not always get the desired response. Sometimes it is not what you say but it may be how you say it. While my girls were young I learned about rewording messages to the girls so that they would understand and comply with requests. I … [Read more...] about It’s Not What You Say— It’s How You Say It
Parenting viewpoints from parents in the trenches, because parenting doesn’t come with a manual. In addition to