Community Magazine September 2011

66 COmmuNItY mAGAZINe Send in your tips for the next edition: INCENTIVES THAT REALLY MOTIVATE KIDS EMAIL: shaatra@CommunityM.com WEB: www.CommunityM.com FAX: 718-504-4246 MAIL: 1616OceanParkway, Brooklyn, NY11223 Maid in the Shade Finally, if you want to train your kids to help out, the first step is to fire the housekeeper. Just kidding! I’m not anti-help. But there is no denying that kids get lazy when there is a housekeeper, mostly because Mommy gets more laid back about asking them to pick up. After all, if Mommy walks away and comes back later, it will all be gone. But, oh boy, do kids get oblivious to the messes they make when they aren’t the ones cleaning them up. So if you have cleaning help, let her scrub your home till it sparkles, but make sure you still hold your children responsible for the messes they make. Your kids won’t like it now, but ultimately you will be doing them (and their eventual spouses) and yourself a big favor! READER TIPS I always expect my children to help keep the house neat, and I also spend time explaining to them why. If someone steps on a toy and hurts his foot, I use that as an opportunity to explain why it’s important to clean up. I always compliment them on a job well done, and use comments like, “Isn’t a neat house enjoyable? Isn’t it great when we don’t have to look for lost things?” C. L. W hen I started my own home, I began wondering where the little elves who tidy up the house disappeared to! I grew up with a maid, so I couldn’t fathom how much mess two “clean” adults could create. I learned fast… and now I teach my kids so they won’t have the same experience. Yve e C. I try to make clean-up fun for the kids by putting on a “clean up song” sung by Uncle Moishy. I also allow each child to select which games/jobs they want to clean up or do, I find this really helps the cooperation. AllisonA.