Tammy Graves

I always have to change my strategies for my girls to pick up. Here are a couple
of things that I have "toyed" with;
During the time that my girls like to sing, we made up songs as we put things
away (this made the time go by fast and help my oldest with understanding
rhyming words). Sometimes if the stuff being picked up was soft or non-breakable
we would play who could toss it into the toy box. Then of course there are times
when bribing works. The bribe may only be for pennies or nickels but this works
currently as my 6 yr old is counting currency now. We often trade smaller
denominations for the larger. When they are really stubborn, and I really need
to have things done I will first try to give them a choice, like: would you
prefer to pick up your toys or clean the ferret cage? I explain that one of the
duties is usually mine and I would gladly switch jobs for the day. They usually
choose their own chore given the choice. I have, in the past, rewarded my kids
as if they were my dogs, with TONS of praise and love and then a small treat.
Now my dogs, were easier, they like cheese. My girls would get something like
"brownies" if they did everything needed that day.