| Anyone else have problems with the television and | | | | cleaning). I also observed my 10 year old daughter |
| getting ready for school in the mornings? Should we | | | | watching television despite the fact that she had |
| make a rule that there is no television before school | | | | homework due in this today that wasn't finished. I gave |
| each week day, or should we just leave it up to our | | | | her a couple of gentle reminders but to no avail. |
| kids to figure out how to organise themselves? | | | | Now I know that she will get a consequence at school |
| This is a question that many parents struggle with. So | | | | for not doing the homework, but I am also not happy |
| what is the answer? It will be different for each | | | | with her choices so I will have to make a few changes |
| individual family. I have a sister with three kids, ranging | | | | in order to help her out a little. Just as well it is family |
| in ages from 14 years down to 9 years. She has the | | | | meeting day again today. We will discuss the issue of |
| television on all morning while the kids are getting ready | | | | getting organised before school and everyone can |
| for school. It works for her. Her kids are motivated and | | | | have their say about how they think mornings should |
| understand what they have to do each morning | | | | be handled. Then, after everyone has spoken we will |
| before leaving. In that situation it works well. | | | | all agree together on the best possible way to "do |
| My kids are a different story. When the television is on | | | | mornings" well. |
| my kids are always watching it. Perhaps that has | | | | This way the kids are having input and they are very |
| something to do with the fact that we had no | | | | likely to abide by it. It is important to give your child |
| television for six months, and when we got it back | | | | some amount of freedom and give them opportunities |
| they were a bit excited. Anyhow, it is harder for me to | | | | to try to do things right. This helps develop many skills |
| use the same tactic as my sister does because it | | | | for life. If you always lay down the law you actually |
| simply doesn't work with my children. | | | | deprive them of learning opportunities. When you let |
| My kids and I had a family meeting and chatted about | | | | children try and fail they learn perseverance, patience, |
| the best way to do things in the mornings. We decided | | | | and self control, all of which are necessary in the adult |
| that if they could get organised well in the mornings for | | | | world. |
| one week without the television, we would let them try | | | | The verdict is in: do what works for your family with |
| with the television again. So we gave it a go. After one | | | | the television in the mornings. If something doesn't |
| week they were given the privilege of television again | | | | work, try another way until you get what is right for |
| and I started to observe. | | | | your family dynamics. And don't be afraid to change |
| It has been a couple of weeks since I reinstated that | | | | tactics. Just communicate what you are doing with |
| privilege and I noticed that this morning none of my | | | | your kids all the way and you will have less behaviour |
| children did their chores (now I'm talking just three | | | | problems with them in the mornings. |
| minutes of drying dishes here, not half an hour of | | | | |