This is my new idea, maybe it was inspired, because I don't feel like I am on the top of my mental game these days to come up with great ideas, or even speak coherently for that matter.
The work bag has slips of paper with rooms of the house or other chores written on them, like "family room" or "wash mirrors." The other bag has activities. I have a couple of books with activity ideas but we don't always get around to flipping through a book or looking online and coming up with something to do. It takes too much time to research something new to do all the time. So instead, I do the research all at once and write down several activities on these slips of paper. Or when I hear of or think of a new thing to do I just write it down and drop it in the bag.
When the boys are looking for something to do, Dallin will often ask, "Can we do work/play?" We will draw a slip from each bag. The work gets done first then we move on to play. It is great because we are spending time together doing the things that I know I should be doing with my kids, but we are also getting some jobs done. The jobs are small and only last five to ten minutes, and the activities are generally much longer but when I am playing with my kids I feel less pressure to be doing other things because we already got something accomplished around the house. Dallin especially loves it and it teaches the boys that there is a time for work and a time for play.
Today we picked up then vacuumed the living room and hall. For an activity, we did collages with stickers and pictures from old magazines. By the time I took this photo Dallin had moved on to drawing a picture of a pretty intense water gun.
This is my new trick. How do make time to do productive things with your kids and get them to clean up around the house?
5 comments:
You are a genius! I'm SO going to copy you!
Love this, what a smart idea! I'm going to use this in our home now. Just a question though, how do you vacuum with the kids? Do they do it or do you? Ours is so heavy, they wouldn't be able to do it.
We are going to try this too. I bet Daniel would love this idea. You always have such creative ideas. Thanks for sharing.
Our vacuum isn't very heavy and Dallin who is almost five can push it. But usually I vacuum anyway. The boys just like to get in the way then jump out of the way at the last second. It's a fun game for them. Glad you guys like the idea, let me know what activities you do!
Love it! I'm going to copy it too :)
I like to randomly call out that it's time to have "everyone pick up 8 things!" - so throughout the day, it sorta helps manage the chaos. I need a "play" bag to inspire the FINISHING part of that, though :)
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