"Are you ready for the summer?" (Remember the Meatballs theme?)

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Our question this week comes from Jane: "How do I get my kids to clean up and take responsibility?"  I'm expanding on this question just a bit and tying it into the current season.   I'm talking about how to use the summer to motivate your kids to not only take responsibility around the house but to stay motivated in terms of their learning and not just academics!

Clean up , baby!

Start the clean up routine from the time children are very young.   From the time my kids were about six months or so I would clean up their toys right in front of them at about the same points each day and narrate my actions.  Before AM snack, before lunch, before bedtime, etc.  I would say as I put the toys away, "okay, help me clean up".  Sometimes accompanied by the oh so lovely "clean up song".   As my children got older they were expected to help out more and more until they could do it independently.  Cleaning up should be a natural part of your routine and it should happen at set times, usually as a transitional activity before a meal or outdoor excursion.  Bottom line: If clean up does not happen neither does the next activity.  

May I have another...

With the more relaxed pace of summer this is a great time to introduce a new responsibility for your child.  Teaching your child to make their beds, set the table, clean the table, fill the dishwasher, etc. are extremely important tasks to keep your household running smoothly.  It is also important to show your children that as they grow they have the power to help the family.   Choose only one task to add (I like to add a new task for each season) as you want to keep it  from appearing as flouting the child labor laws!  Model first and teach your child the way you want to the task accomplished.  Accept what you are asking them to do will be far from perfect at first and not look exactly as you would do it.  Let it go. Encourage the effort and know they will get better.  If your kids are attending sleep away camp find out what they had to do as the nights they were a "waitron" or "serving wench" and carry it through in your home come their return!  

Learning comes in all shapes!

I'm sure that you've joined the New York Public Library and Barnes and Noble reading clubs like I suggested in last week's post.  But what about math?  Statistics show that most children stay the same or excel in reading over the summer but lose lots of ground in math.  Here are a few suggestions: 

Discuss money in real situations.

As you pay the ice cream truck or the "icee" man in your 'hood talk to your children about the cost of what they are purchasing, the amount of money they have and  the change they should get. Eventually let them go up by themselves with you watching in the background.  Someone recently short changed my son.  Another important teaching moment happened  while gingerly  telling/showing the vendor there was a mistake.  Oy!

Count up sea shells at the shore.  Use a sectioned plate and let your children categorize shells by shape, size, color.  They can do this many times.  Discuss choices.  Ex. "How did you decide this  group goes together?"

Let your children help or pack their own suitcases.  Discuss,  "If we are going away for "x" amount of days how many pairs of shorts, shirts and socks will you need?"

"Do, do, doo!"  Sing with the kiddies and go to concerts and...

Take advantage of the free events happening in your area.  In New York City free events happen with great abundance during the summer.  Use your excursions as opportunities to try a new train line.  Discuss with your children how to get back home from various destinations.  Look at maps before  leaving and have your child follow while you are on the road or in the subway (a great occupier of children's time).  Does your child know what the closest train or bus stop is to their home?  Do they know your cell phone number and know how to dial it (this takes practice)?  Do your children know what to do if they lose you in a crowd?  This tip comes from my cousin:  Tell your child to find "a mom with a baby" (not a security officer as many uniform officers can be confusing)  and let them know they are lost.  If they are old enough to know your cell phone number (by age 4)  they can ask them to call you on their cell phone.

Finally, there is nothing wrong with buying a workbook/activity book and "gently" requiring your kid to do a few pages a week.

Here are a few that I like:

Kumon Series

Mad Libs

Sudoku for kids

Bridge Activities for the Summer Workbook

All items can be found at Barnes and Noble or Amazon.

For more ideas see my prior posts on indoor and outdoor activities.

Here's to a mild summer with a lot less rain, lots of safe fun and weekly visits to our site!