Eat breakfast, brush teeth, toilet and change. All can do independently but won't, usually. My wife and I want to encourage our child to be independent. I suggested an egg timer to set time parameters for activities and then a reward system such as a wall chart. Next to each daily activity she could put a sticker and if she does all 4 with little or no help she gets a little prize. Also take an instant photo to aid memories of the times when she was really helpful and everyone was happy. Everything is visual and tangible and rewards are immediate. Bit worried about stressing-out the poor kid though. Any comments suggestions?
2006-10-30 11:26:57 · 8 answers · asked by Steve Potts 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
When I want my kids to do something ie get dressed i tell them that im going to get dressed or do my hair etc and i will race them, see who is the fastest, then when they win (they always do lol) i pretend i'm upset and going crazy which makes them laugh so they wanna keep winning. You can do it with anything, " i'm going to brush my teeth I bet I'm finished before you eat your breakfast" or "I bet I can get dressed faster than you". I swear it works, try it!! Then just act silly at the end it makes them laugh and takes the seriousness and pressure off the situations.
2006-10-30 11:35:14 · answer #1 · answered by cheryl 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think the reward system you mapped out sounds great! it may be that she is just a little slow in the mornings waking up. I am not a morning person myself, so I get up earlier to have a little lazy time before I have to get ready. Maybe if she was up about 15 minutes earlier she would be more awake and take to helpingherself a little more. You may want to just start with 1 of the chores at a time to let her feel good about that, then add another one in a few days. I agree with you that she is fully capable of getting herself ready in the mornings, but it may be too much of a transition to go from mommy/daddy doing everything to her having to do it all. Try to start slow and see if she will build up to being a big girl helper.
2006-10-30 19:38:38 · answer #2 · answered by JIM D 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ok, we are talking about a child who isn't four years old yet, and you want her to get up and do everything to get herself ready for nursery school? Dream on Daddy ! Lighten up! I used that reward system teaching incorrigible teens ina junior high, and it works, but they have to be able to absorb A LOT of info to make all that work. The little ones just don't have that length of concentration span developed yet.
So each activity needs to be monitored, or trust me, she isn't really brushing her teeth. You are going to need to supervise, but make a simple routine, as little ones adapt very well to repetitive activities. You can lay out her outfit the night before, and even have the toothbrush and toothpaste on a little napkin the night before, get the cereal bowl out etc together. Make it fun !
Don't hurry her, or over criticize if it isn't perfect; let her learn that each school morning has a different set of things to do, and tackle them one at a time, letting her master one at a time.
Enjoy this fleeting time with you baby girl, even if you have to get up earlier---- all too soon she will be out of the house faster than you can imagine and on to her independent life.
2006-10-30 19:44:48 · answer #3 · answered by Lola 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If she has enough time to do all of it herself it should not unduly stress her. Just keep working toward her doing all independently but my experience has been that most children are around 7 before they really get themselves ready on their own in the morning before school. That is without parental intervention such as setting the timer or reminding them.
2006-10-30 19:36:51 · answer #4 · answered by elaeblue 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take it slowly teach her one thing at a time... how to put shoes on how to comb hair etc. And wake her up a bit earlier it will take her probably ten to fifteen minutes longer than you think. We already know how to do these things so we don't remeber how long it took us to get the hang of it. Be patient, encourage her and give her plenty of time so I probably wouldn't set the timer just yet. Good Luck.
2006-10-30 19:30:16 · answer #5 · answered by do you know me? 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Make up a daily chart with each task written on it and when that task for that day is completed let the child stick a star in the box.
2006-10-31 11:35:15 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
make sure you are not expecting to much she is a bit young to be doing it all on her own, But with some of the things you know she can do make a game out of it ( dont expect a child at her age to do it all she will get frustrated and not want to do any of it) Also make sure there is no distraction like TV
2006-11-03 18:29:29 · answer #7 · answered by lsoracco 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
your child has E.S.P ? thats great! ask her what I'm thinking!
2006-10-30 19:29:30 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋