The battle: I wanted Sophie to pick up her toys, put them away, and to do it in a timely fashion; she wanted to diddle-daddle and fiddle around and drag her feet and only half-assed it
The result: you're looking at it. Guess what that trash bag is filled with......
Me: Sophie, I am taking all of your toys downstairs with me. If you should misbehave in any way, they will be thrown out in the trash. If you don't pick up when I ask you to, out they go. If you talk back to me, out they go.
Her: You won't remember, Mommy (oh, it took everything in my willpower not take her out!)
Me: Oh yes I will. Sophie, where do your toys belong? On the floor? Under your bed? On your bed?
Her: In their homes?
Me: Yes.
Her: Mommy, are you really going to put my toys in your room?
Me: Yes.
Her: But I don't have any toys left in my room. What am I going to play with when Lindsay comes over? (Her friend Lindsay is coming over for a playdate tomorrow morning).
Me: You can earn them back.
Her: I can? You mean, if I am good, I can earn ONE toy back?!
Me: Yes.
Her: So, if I make my bed in the morning, I can pick a toy from the trash bag?
Me: Yes.
Her: If I get dressed by myself, can I pick another toy?
Me: Yes (she is starting to get really excited now)
Her: If I don't complain, can I have another toy?
Me: OH YES. (anything to have her NOT whine and complain....yes, yes, YESSSSSSSSSSSS)
Her: Oh Mommy, I am going to earn ALL of my toys back.
She them smiles hugely, cuddles and snuggles up into my arms, we chat a few more minutes, I tuck her in, kiss her good night and walk out of the room.
So tell me peeps, am I the Wicked Witch of the East or the Smartest Parent OUT THERE?
And can I just tell you that it felt AWESOME to throw those toys in that trash bag? I am sick and tired of seeing all that crap strew everywhere- you know the toys that just annoy you? That have 8 bajillion pieces to them that scatter and spread around your house, to NEVER be all picked up? Those toys are in THAT trash bag. GAWD, it feels good. Plus, plus, PLUS, do you know how much faster it is to throw toys and crap into a trash bag rather than sorting things out and putting them "where they belong"? For realz. I think our new organizational system will be a trash bag for each kid!
17 comments:
I think it's brilliance. Sheer brilliance. I'm tucking this one away for future reference. You go, Mommy Mo!!! :)
I am SO trying this tomorrow.
Dude, I am so ready to scoop up the entire playroom....my mom brings up a box every so often and puts it at the bottom of the stairs....they know exactly what BOX this is....it's the taking box as they call it. They rush to the playroom to put everything away...it's awesome.
Good move tonight.
I think you're the smartest parent ever! Love it!
I've done it. Unfortunately my oldest? She doesn't seem to care enough about her toys to want to earn them back. Heck, she spent about 5 hours in her room today alone, all because she didn't want to clean up. She screamed for about 2 hours of that. All the reverse psychology and positive reinforcement tactics fail miserably with her. Some days duck tape and a closet seem like the quickest way to sanity. I hope it continues to work!
Yes!!! I've wanted you to try this for the past 2 years. (I can't do it effectively, b/c I'm not home enough to enforce it.)
Your stock has gone up with me. And if you keep it up, you might get some hot action when I return ;) Lucky you...
BTW - Are we ready to institute a chores/allowance system? Where some chores are identified to be done without allowance (indentured service for being in the Moawad family and in school), and some with allowance.
What do you think? Anyone?
I am so ready to join you on this!!
Morning update: Sophie did 3 "good" things this morning and earned back 3 toys from the trash bag.
She had to explain to her friend Lindsay why they didn't have very many things to play with in her room, LMAO. She also explained to her friend how she to earn her toys back- AWESOME.
The funny thing is, they have been playing ALL morning with practically nothing. Maybe I should go check on them and make sure they haven't gotten too creative with their play?!!!!
Well, I'm not ashamed. I take away some my kids toys, and usually their favorites, somewhat frequently. I always let them know that when they show me they can clean up their toys, they can have the xyz toys back.
It works for them, it works for me!
I've totally done this with Miles. It does feel good. Less clutter and a point WELL MADE. :)
I have heard of this and have yet to use it but it may be coming soon. Congrats to you both - your for sticking to your guns and her for hopefully learning a lesson...
Awesome. I'd do this, but I'm pretty mean sometimes ;-) We have a rule that my kiddos have to clean up before they leave the toyroom after quiet time. It has taken them over an hour before - which I guess is an extra hour for me, but it drives me crazy.
Very good idea! When we get to that point I'm going to have to keep this in mind.
eventually it morphs from toys to clothes..clothes everywhere...like the clothes are cloning over night.... every night... i did not like that 'phase'...
hahahaha! i love the "earn back" thing! i've threatened to throw out a toy and have actually done it once. i have yet to get the bag out but i'm all for it!
OMG, my friend (who I love dearly) is terrible and enforcing consequences for her kids. The girls (agges 5 & 7) were picking up when I was there the other day and taking FOREVER, so I stepped in. "Okay, my watch has a timer. You have 15 minutes to get everything up off the floor or I'm taking it home with me."
Reply: "Nuh, uh. You won't."
Me: "Try me. Your mom already told me I could."
Reply: "We'll never get it done. Help us."
Me: "Nope. You can do it."
I went and got a bag and had to stand there and keep telling them how much time they had left. And, yes, I did help a tiny bit. But not much. They seriously didn't believe that I'd do it, because their mom had done it but apparently not correctly - it didn't work. But I'm mean! And if I say it, I mean it! Surprise, surpise they got it done. It wasn't super organized, but you could see the floor. Then I timed them for 5 minutes each while they vacuumed. Drastic improvement...
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