i've been counting down since last Dec 26 ... are you ready? me neither!!

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

routines

we're trying to get back into the habit of a few things around here ... so i made this

 and put it up on the wall outside the bathroom ... i stand there with my white board pen in hand,
"Abi have you made your bed? are you dressed? did you change your underwear? put your PJs away? brush your teeth? brush your hair? is your back pack ready?
Elyssa have you made your bed? are you dressed? did you change your underwear? put your PJs away? brush your teeth? brush your hair? is your back pack ready?" and so on ...
then at night, "Abi, do you have your PJs on? are your dirty clothes in the hamper? did you brush your teeth? go to the potty? get a drink of water? brush your hair? [we read scriptures this morning] have you said your personal prayers?
Elyssa ... "

i'm hoping after about 21 days {that's how long it takes to make a habit right??} of this they will not have to be told to go to the potty and get a drink of water and breathe in and breathe out ...



and though we slacked off most of the summer, we are back on track with our reading together each morning ... albeit one verse each and there's still some chatter about wanting their's to be on bottom or top when we stack them back up to put them away (the fighting over colored pencils has been alleviated by the baggies) ... but we at least read, talk alittle about what we read, say morning prayer together and when i remember i sing to them, "There's a right way to live and be happy ... "

our routine is getting there ... we'll have all the kinks ironed out just about the time for Christmas Break ... when it all falls apart again!!

4 comments:

Colleen said...

Nice! I always start those charts with the best intentions.... But it sounds like you are more on the ball about checking them of than I ever am! Here's to developing great habits!

stephanie said...

Great idea with the chart (and it looks so nice - how did you make that?!). I have to suggest - what if the kids checked it off themselves and you just check to make sure everything is done at the end? The littliest will need some help - but b/c you have pictures he can be a little independent too. Asking them if they did each thing helps you be organized in getting them to do it, but it's still a lot like you telling them to do each. I'd bet that they'll learn the routine faster (and decrease your involvement!) + have some pride in it if they get to use the pens on the cool chart on their own! (maybe stickers for the littliest?)
Just a thought!

Quigley Family said...

Way to be on the ball Emily. You can do hard things!

Anonymous said...

That song CRACKS me up. My grandma would always start humming it whenever my brothers and I would start fighting. Ha.