Clean the sink
Today we (the boys and I) started formal planning of our western trip. We plan to leave in less then 2 weeks for approximately 36 days. Quite a lot to do in little time.MilitaryKid was instructed today to either read a book or work on his math sheets. He is slow at recalling math facts and he needs to speed things up. Of course he would rather fold paper into an airplanes and fly them around the room. Today I gave him the choice of either spending his time reading books or working on math facts. When he chose neither and was caught folding paper I informed to go upstairs and clean his Dad’s bathroom sink.Later while I was working through all those piles of paper that accumulate while your mind is elsewhere I asked MilitaryKid what he was doing. “Drawing a landing field.” was his response.
“Aren’t you supposed to be reading a book or working on your math facts? If you are not doing either task there will be my bathroom sink to clean, and the whirlpool tub, the shower and the toilet in my bathroom to clean.”I finished going through the papers, when a very excited boy showed me the landing strip he had drawn and colored. I praised his effort, admired his work, and then informed him to go clean my sink.
He’s cleaning the sink, and I’m hoping that he will learn, someday soon, that there are choices in life and consequences for not choosing wisely.
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May 23rd, 2006 @ 10:05 pm
*Smile* I will have to remember that strategy. On the other hand, in MY house, cleaning the sink could be classified as cruel and unusual punishment (*blushing*)
I look forward to learning whether this consequence has a lasting effect.
May 23rd, 2006 @ 10:43 pm
I just tucked MilitaryKid into bed. He reminded me that since he was doing neither task he should go clean the tub. Nice try :-)) And yes, cleaning Dad’s sink might be classified as cruel and unusual punishment — it was really bad.
This strategy did work with ScienceKid many years ago but for awhile there I had really clean bathrooms. My explanation to him at the time was that he needed a skill as an adult and he was either going to be educated or know how to clean a home; either way he could support himself. I don’t remember how long it took him but it did work.
I like using discipline methods like this since the decision or choice is the child’s — you do A or B and everything is fine, but if you chose C this will happen. No surprises, no spanking, just the child’s choice.