I had to pass this on because I cant believe it's actually working for us. Before my kids can do anything with a screen in the morning, they must be dressed (with shoes) face washed, teeth brushed, tinkled, hair brushed, etc. Then and only then can they pick up or watch a screen. Nintendo DS, Donkey Kong, TV .. The trick is letting them do WHATEVER they want. Granted, it's only about 5 or 10 minutes, but hey! They are actually ready for school! And this has been working for two whole weeks now! BOOYAA!
What tricks do you try to get your kids to do stuff?
Oh yeah...we do the same thing. Everyone must be dressed before they come downstairs. Then I give them cereal to eat while they watch a few cartoons!
unless it's a weekend my kids aren't allowed to come downstairs (bedrooms and bathroom are upstairs) without being dressed, clean, brushed, beds made. After breakfast, bags packed and by the door and shoes are on, then the tv can come on. due to my homeschooled son and his screen time issues, there are NO video games during the week, so it's tv or nothing. Works wonders and I was really worried with this being DD's first year in public school and having to get up before 10 (i'm not a morning person either) that it would be very tough to have her ready and to school on time.
Although I prefer "no screen time" before school, my son is allowed IF he is ready to go and has at least 10 minutes.
So......bribery works it seems! LOL
Threats? Sometimes they work too!
:)
I try to lay his clothes out the night before. I tickle my son when its time to get up. I dance my fingers up his back and over his shoulder. He giggles for a few minutes then gets up. After hes had a shower, brushed teeth, tinkle, clothes on, then he can watch cartoons and it might be only 15 minutes or 5 depending on his speed. When the intro song to Barney gets done, we grab his lunch and then we head out the door to wait for the bus.
J.:
CONGRATS!! that's the rule in our home - they must be ready to walk out the door in order to turn on the TV, XBOX, ANYTHING electronic (with the exception of a radio)...my boys have to do a bag drag every school night - I need to see that their homework is in their backpack and they have their clothes set out for the next day...
However, schools are closed today for us because of the flooding...and my boys didn't sleep in - darn it!! They were up 35 minutes later than they normally get up!! URGH!!!!
