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Lindsay Metcalf
on Jun 19 2013 - 06:00 AM
My top five most important moments of the summer so far
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mara williams
on Jun 18 2013 - 06:00 AM
Hey, manchild, mama says: clean your room, wash the dishes, don't drink and drive.
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Emily Parnell
on Jun 16 2013 - 06:00 AM
Eating fresh, local produce is good for body and soul
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Jim Cosgrove
on Jun 13 2013 - 06:00 AM
I just want to buy some pants. Please, turn down the music.
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- kim nakahodo - Profile | Pictures | Blog
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Looking around my disaster house, I started wondering…. When do I start giving Niko chores? I’m sick of being confused for a maid as it is…. At least maids get paid. Anyway, I could use some help around the house and I think it’s about time that Niko starts earning his keep with something more than cuteness and kisses. (Kidding of course… maybe.)I honestly can’t remember when the chore board was raised in my house when I was a kid. It was always there in the kitchen along with the fridge or sink. I can close my eyes and see the gold, silver and red star stickers signifying a job’s grade of being done. Just like a report card, my mom graded us on a how well we did our chores – smart lady. We were not know for being a throughout as she would have liked.We were never paid in money, but in ‘treasure chest’ items. My mom would add up the week’s score and we could either carry our points over or cash them in for instant gratification. Think of it like going to Chuck E Cheese’s and cashing in tickets. There were small to medium prizes in the treasure chest and a list of bigger ticket items with numbers next to them. So, if you wanted the new Super Mario Game, there would be number of how many stars it would take to get it. The answer…. More stars than you have ever had. The three of us kids would often pool our stars for the greater good…. Separate, we were pathetic, but together we could actually afford the good stuff.My mom would value books at a lower rate than most items to encourage reading. This worked well since they were the most affordable thing in the treasure box; candy was more expensive than the books. Again, she was a smart lady and got us comic books like Archie and Batman so we would be tricked into thinking or reading as a fun thing and not a chore. Little did she know she was building a nerd army…. Oh well.I know that the trend now is to give kids cash for chores. I don’t know if we will do money or not. I like the idea of my mom’s false sense of value and tricking us into reading and making candy an expensive option.So, when did you guys start chores in your house? Is it too early to start at the age of 3? I’m not sure he will be able to grasp the idea of chores…. Thoughts?
I think toddlers can pick up toys, especially if you can make a game out of it. When they are encouraged to put away items when they are done with them, then it makes things a little less cluttered. Also, keeping drink cups and snacks in the kitchen also helps eliminate other messes too, expect for maybe occasional popcorn with a movie, etc.It is never too early to start and a three year old can help you straighten up his bed, put his shoes by the door (saved us lots of time in the morning rush) and put things away. Make it fun, simple and specific (not clean your room but drive your cars back to the toy box to park for the night, etc).
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