Do you ever long for a class called “House-Broken in 2 Weeks” – but for your kids?
(Yeah. Might be nice. Scratch that – I need it.)
Only problem? Dog trainers don’t take human puppies. Unfortunately.
Let’s see what we could do to solve this problem on our own, shall we?
Envision the end
First, what are you going for? It’ll be a lot easier to reach your goal if you know where you’re headed.
- Are you looking for “things off the floor” retraining?
- Do you need food cleanup help?
- Are your offspring sorely in need of personal hygiene assistance?
(You know, clean up spilled water after showers, hang up used towels, remove dirty underwear from the bathroom, wipe up the toothpaste spills, don’t fill the sink for fun…. No? Just me?)
Have a clear picture in your head of what changes need to be made around your house.
Determine the how
Now that you know where you’re going, it’s time to map out how you’re going to get there.
You probably already have some system that works pretty well for your kids.
(Sticker rewards, chore charts, no screen time until you do __, no dessert unless the table is cleaned up, all homework must be done by seven pm, so on and so forth.)
Repurpose one of these (it should be one of your best-performing systems) for “house break the kids.”
Loosely plan which rewards or consequences belong to each action (or group of actions) you’re shooting for.
Example: No cartoon time with Dad until you’ve brushed your teeth is already working a treat.
Now, expand the rule to “no cartoon time with Dad until you’ve brushed your teeth, cleaned up the sink and mirror, picked your dirty clothes off the floor, and re-hung any and all bathroom towels.”
You have the right to live in a home with kids who know how to pick up after themselves.
Communicate expectations
Last, have a family meeting (or at least a kid chore one). Tell the kids that they’ve been doing a great job with (brushing their teeth before cartoons).
But lately, you’ve noticed that the boys plug the sink to float toothbrushes (and forget to unplug it), the girls protest “that’s not my towel” when you ask them to tidy up post-shower, and the toilet has all sorts of trash around it.
(No one’s fault, of course, or so they claim.)
So now there’s going to be a hygiene routine before cartoons (as opposed to one hygiene task).
From now on, before they can watch cartoons with daddy, they’re responsible for checking the bathroom for dirty clothes, towels on the floor, trash around the toilet, and a clean sink.
You will be inspecting (better yet, dad will) before they sit down to watch. Everything clear? Any questions?
Give it a try. Who knows, maybe some of the kids will think it’s fun being in “puppy training school”!
(One can hope, right?)
This is actually what we do before our family cartoon night. Everyone has to have their room picked up (yes, we’ve got room sharers); all kitchen cleanup chores must be completed; and teeth brushing and baths have to be done.
Otherwise they’re not eligible for Looney Tunes with daddy.
(And you know what? The magic of cartoons is highly motivating!)
This is just something I watch as a mom – whether or not they’re taking personal responsibility for cleaning up after themselves. And if they aren’t, I bring in a rewards system for that one kid.
(I’ll help you do a thorough overhaul of the kids’ chores and room cleaning expectations when I’m coaching you in #Momlife Made Easy. Because I know you can’t do it all, and that your kids have been slacking off!)
So, now that you’ve gotten an idea of how to do this, let’s play around with how a “house break the kids” routine might work for your family.
It’s just three steps.
First, which tasks do you really want your kids to complete? (Hint: Probably the ones that are bugging you most left undone.)
Second, what’s the routine, reward, or time of day you’re going to attach these new habits to? (Gotta have a plan, or it won’t happen!)
And third, when do you have time today (or tomorrow) to tell your kids what the new standards are for room inspection, bathroom upkeep, etc.?
That’s it. Just three simple tasks. You can grab your journal and brainstorm them out right now, or you can wait till later this afternoon when you have some free time to do it.
Either way, so long as you get it done.
Because I want you to enjoy living in a home with kids who know how to pick up after themselves.
I think you have a right to live like that.
And this is how to get there.
So what’s the new tidy-up routine your kids are starting today?
