My Kingdom for a Bottle of Motivation

How do we motivate our kids to do the things we want them to do?

You mean my kids can do other things besides make messes, demand food, and pick on each other?

I think this is a tough topic for nearly every family. If anyone has the secret answer, I want it now! Pretty please with sprinkles on top?

I can however tell you what doesn't work.

Waiting until the evening when the kids are tired, cranky, and hungry to ask them to clean their toy room. Logically you'd think they clean quickly so they could eat dinner and rest. However "logic" isn't in a child's vocabulary. They'd rather be miserable and not clean. It's a losing battle, don't play General Custer at Little Big Horn.

Being vague. "Clean your room" makes no sense to a kid. To them, cleaning their room could mean reorganizing the massive pile of stuffed animals on their bed while ignoring the clothes and toys everywhere else.

Expecting them to "see" the mess. Some people honestly never gain "this place is a mess, I should clean" vision. Dirty footprints on the floor? Are akin to the grass being green to a child. That's just the way it is, why try to do anything about it?

I'm never going to be the world's best motivator. But I may just be the world's best repeater. "Pick up your shoes." "Put away your jacket." "Is that where your backpack goes?" Over and over and over until it happens. Then repeat the next day. Suposidly kids learn by repetition. I just hope I don't lose my voice before they finally get it.


Katie Fleck is a stay at home mom of five, Zach (9 years), Emily and Ally (8 year old identical twins), Kyle (5 years), and Kelly (4 years old). On a quest for a self cleaning house and 27 hour days, she writes at Ramblings of a SAHM