Am I asking too much for my 3 to follow a few simple directions to get ready for school each morning? At the beginning of 1st grade I made up a check list of simple things to do before going to school. I included pictures since they couldn't really read that well. Every morning we send them to do their list of things, and every morning when I get back from taking them to school there are several things that did not get done. For instance brushing teeth, putting pj's up, that sort of thing. I know this doesn't seem like much, but if they don't learn to do these simple things, how will they ever learn to do other things as they get older.

Should we come up with a chart or system like the Dilley's? That seems like something that would take up all of our time just checking things and marking it on the chart. Does anyone do something like this with success?? I need suggestions. It just seems like they are getting more out of control by the day. I'm starting to feel like all I do is fuss at them, and it isn't working. Maybe this is just how boys are??

Pam
BBB 9/98

i don't think that is to much to ask at all.At the begining of the school year we started ...
6:30 up and breakfast....they clear own dishes.
6:40 upstairs to dress, brush hair and teeth, make beds put pj's under pillows.
they catch the bus at 7:20...so if anytime is left after they get shoes on and bags and coats by the door they can watch tv.
My kids are 6 and this is all done most days.
Becky
SAHM~
Emma,Amber,Ian 8/18/99
Olivia 9/29/00

I agree you are not asking too much.

We did the same thing when the kids began kindergarten *tho' I love the picture idea).

If ours had their whole list done by &am they could watch one episode of "Arthur" while I got ready. It worked like a charm. (We watch very little TV in our house so it was a big incentive!)
Now we do the same in the morning and for after school. We allow no TV, computer, Gamecube or friends until all the am chores and homework is done.

I won't say it always goes smoothly (manydays friends come over after school and tho' I still make them do their homework I don't make them study or do music practice) it does work pretty well.
Good Luck!


Judie and Victor
lucky parents to
Frankie 3/95
Maggie 7/96
Rose 7/96
Elizabeth 7/96

I don't think that you are expecting too much. Mine started kindergarten this year and we developed "chores" that must be done in the mornings. They dress themselves, put their pj's in the hamper, brush their teeth, clear their dishes, and make their beds. Once this is done, they are allowed to watch cartoons until time for school. You might try a chart because it would make them more accountable. Good luck!

Karri
Kolton (14)
Madison (9)
McKayla (9)
Dalton (9)

Pam,

My 5 1/2 boys are in preschool and I was having some of the same frustrations. I mentioned it to our school psy and she gave me an idea. (She also said she does the same thing for her daughter who is almost 5.)

She recommended a Visual Time Tracker. Learning Resources makes it. She said that they recommend it for kids with ADD or ADHD, but they work well for all kids. It sort of looks like a mini traffic light. You program it for a selected amount of time and as it gets near the end of the time, it will go to yellow and then red.

We have only had ours for a couple of weeks, but so far so good. They are highly motivated by it. I use it to get them dressed in the mornings and for cleaning up the toys in the basement. IF they beat the timer, they get a marble in their jar. So far, they have beaten the timer every time.

You could read more about it on amazon.com.

Melissa

I must admit that I have to tell them a few times in the morning to get their chores done (eat brkfst, brush teeth, get dressed, comb hair, make bed, get book bag & coat ready for bus). If I'm not on top of them, my morning is made WAY worse by children not being ready for the bus!

good luck.

RoseMarie
mom to the Hooligans 12/21/98

We have similar expectations, and have gone through some of the same frustrations with making sure that everything gets done without having to remind them 10 times...

Our trio is 7 and our little one is 4, and they get up, get dressed, make beds and straighten their rooms, clear their breakfast dishes and place them in the dishwasher, and then brush teeth, hair and finish getting ready for school. Also who's ever day it is (we have a 'child of the day" system) also helps clear the rest of the breakfast table (cereal boxes,bread, butter, etc). Even the 4 yo can do all this, so I do not think it is too much for 6-7 year olds.

What helped us enforce this was using their allowance as negotiating power. We started giving them an allowance this year when the trio started 1st grade; however, the understanding is that in order to get allowance, they are expected to do their chores, homework, and have generally good behavior throughout the week (at home and in school). If they leave for school without all their chores done, they get an "x" for that day; two "xs" in one week and they lose the allowance. That only happened a couple of times... since then the routine has gone much more smoothly. There is still an occasional "x", but after that warning, they really get on the ball to avoid the second one.

Hope this helps.

Teresa
GBG 7 yo
G 4 yo

My 7 year olds also have responsibilities in the monrning. They have to make beds, put jammies away, feed animals (they rotate days for this). They also must completely dress, brush teeth, hair etc. before coming to the kitchen for breakfast. There are no exceptions and since they are all big breakfast eaters they are pretty good about doing what they need to do. I try to keep morning chores simple since we don't have much time (35 minutes from wakeup to out the door for school). Weekends they must do all the above before they can play their Gameboys.

Jenni
mom of ABC 11/98 and K 5/04