Work Before Play

Many families, ours included, have learned that breakfast is eaten after we are dressed and have made our beds. Dressing and making a bed somehow only takes five minutes when done before breakfast and take forever if done after breakfast. If it is your child's job to see that the pets are fed and watered, he should be required to do that before he sits down to eat. Wise parents establish a time line for when you expect the job done. For instance, a phrase like, "By the time I take you to your baseball game," or, "Before you can turn on the TV," lets them know what you expect. That way the kids know the ground rules and they are measurable. If the task is not done within the time frame, they recognize there will be consequences, either natural or logical

? Require some work from every family member daily. Then relax. If you are in a high powered or stressful job, you may find that you have a difficult time allowing either yourself or those around you to just be. There is a difference between leisure and laziness, and we need to recognize that difference. We need to be able to have fun and joy in our life. We want to reach the point where we are doing less for our children and more with them.

? If an older child has trouble with follow-through, consider a written contract with agreed upon consequences. We make it mandatory in our family that before a teenager can get a driver's license, she must have accomplished at least three service projects. She can choose to read to the blind, rake a neighbor's yard or whatever, but it's important that she learn to go outside of herself and extend service to others. Teenagers tend to think they are the center of the universe, and it is humbling to recognize how many other people are in the world around them.

? To promote good habits, agree to a much-coveted reward at the end of 21 consecutive days of positive action. What you are aiming for is called automatic action. It becomes such a habit that you don't even realize or have to think about doing it on a daily basis. For instance; making your bed, hanging up your coat, picking up your plate from the table, rinsing it off and loading it in the dishwasher.

? When your child has cleaned his/her rooms especially well, suggest he/she invite the family into the room to play a game of UNO or Monopoly. Let them bask in the glow of hospitality.

? Have a child put away as many items as the number of years he or she is in age. Then you pick up as many things as you are in age and let the child count. They LOVE this one, especially if you ham it up and say, "It's not fair!" a phrase they have probably used on you a time or two.

? Establish daily personal basics. If you list every little task on a chart, it becomes overwhelming. What you are striving for is automatic action. Most of us don't have to remember to brush our teeth and wash our face at night; it is just part of a routine. The more things become automatic, the more our minds are freed to explore and grow in new directions.

© Judy H. Wright, Author, Speaker and Life Educator www.ArtichokePress.com

This article was written by Judy Wright, parent educator and author. Feel free to use it in your newsletter or publication, but please give full credit to the author and mention the contact information of JudyWright@ArtichokePress.com, 406-549-9813.

You will find a full listing of books, tapes, newsletters and workshops available on finding the heart of the story in the journey of life by going to www.ArtichokePress.com

---

Toxic Chemicals, Are Your Children Being Exposed?

You do what you can to keep your little ones... Read More

Stop Lying NOW

Do you have a consistent problem with your child lying... Read More

Parenting Your Teenager: 8 Things You Need to Be Doing

Get into their world. The world that teens are growing... Read More

Road Trip with Kids

Boredom, limited space and overflowing energy are a source of... Read More

STOP Parental Alienation Syndrome before It Gets a Chance to START

Parental Alienation Syndrome was probably first identified and codified by... Read More

Diagnosing ADHD in Children, an Introduction

Everyone in a private practice setting who works with children... Read More

Choosing Names For Twins

There are many reasons for treating your twins as individuals... Read More

Defrazzle with Hug Therapy

"Hugging is healthy: it helps the body's immunity system, it... Read More

Develop Your Childs Genius: Training Your Child for Success

This time, I would like to talk about a subject... Read More

Son, Can I Use The Car Tonight?

I recall somewhere in the recesses of my aging brain... Read More

Nurtured by Love or Matured by Nature?

"There is nothing new under the sun," states Ecclesiastes 1:9.... Read More

Old Wives Tales and Other Things That Just Might Help with ADHD

Here are some tips that I have picked up from... Read More

Home For The Holidays: Is it Time for That Talk?

Just a couple of years ago Annie helped her parents... Read More

Mom vs. Dad: Navigating Parenting Differences With All Good Intentions

Let's face it: raising children can be quite the adventure.... Read More

Helping Your Children Develop Their Self-Discipline

We want our children to do the right thing, especially... Read More

Creating Great Birthday Party Videos

My son recently had his third birthday party and it... Read More

Parenting Confidence - Who Needs It?

It used to strike me as odd - but really,... Read More

Sanity Savers For Busy Mums Page

Question 1 "How do I get more time to play?"... Read More

Lets Read! The Benefits of Reading to Your Children

Parents, when you help your children learn to read, you... Read More

To Test or Not To Test - That Is the Question

Little Suzy has really been having a hard time getting... Read More

ADHD: A Dialogue With a Non-Believer, part three

Dear Sir, It was with some interest that I read... Read More

Spending Time With Your Child

Why Is Spending Time with Your Child So Important?For children... Read More

The Neurology of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Part One

What is Happening in the brain of children, teens, and... Read More

How to Set Healthy Limits at Work

Back in college, I wrote for a five-day-a-week, award-winning campus... Read More

Parents Demand Dumbed-down Tests:An Unintended Bad Consequence of the No Child Left Behind Act

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 is making... Read More

Parenting Your Teenager: Are Sleep Overs with the Opposite Sex OK?

Q. Our 17-year-old son wants us to let his girlfriend... Read More

The Long Journey Home

Once upon a time, I thought I had it all.... Read More

First Year With Twins - A Father?s Point Of View

People always ask my wife and I: "How did you... Read More

From Good to GREAT: Secrets On Becoming A Better Dad

While most fathers aspire to become the best Dads they... Read More

MORAL ARMORS Irrational Parenting, Part III

Not Letting Them Think.We all implicitly know that anything questioning... Read More

5 Tips For Talking To Your Children About What They See In The News

Mommy (Daddy), Why do those people want to hurt everyone?Last... Read More

Really Good News About Your Children?s Video Games

Research published by University of Rochester neuroscientists C. Shawn Green... Read More

My Best Buddy

My son, Dakota is now 7 yrs old. He is... Read More