Haven't Yet Found My Way

[newmama]

Mystik, laundry is a nightmare once you get behind. I hate it!
Good job attacking the mountain. I was going to say toys and clothes seem to be the norm for messy houses. Your S is old enough to pick up after himself and here are 2 tricks I do for my first graders on certain days:

1) give them 5 minutes to pick up. If we get it done in 5 minutes I either give them all a small piece of candy like gobstopper, or we play a game, or they all get a pride paw. (a type of "caught ya being good" ticket...when they get 15 they go to the treasure chest)

2)the best one of all- "Magic Scrap!" I look around and mentally choose the special things(the scraps can be paper, or crayons, or other doo-dads. I say "There are 3 magic scraps...go!" and the kids that pick up the magic scraps earn a prize (a special sticker, a trip to the treasure chest, or candy or a special pencil)

The trick is that I don't tell them when all of the scraps have been found until the whole room gets clean.

We don't do this every time because I have heard some kids whisper"leave it on the ground- she'll play magic scrap if it's messy!" but they don't know when we will play.

I think this game can be modified for our one kid!