I have threatened my kids for years that if they can't keep their rooms clean then I will come in with a garbage bag and clean it myself. Or if they complain about having to clean their rooms I tell them that I will do it for them and then I head for the garbage bags. Quick disclaimer here...I don't expect perfection at all, not even close. But put dirty clothes where they go, put clean clothes and shoes in the closet, if your floor is covered with legos that you were playing with four days ago then clean them up! Stuff like that. Well Jared and Gabe have been out for "summer" vacation these past three weeks and start school again on monday. Their room has gotten out of control. I have been trying to get them to clean it up and they have done a little bit here and there. This morning I said it had to be done today. That if they didn't get it clean I would come in with a garbage bag. Two hours later they were just playing in there so I went in and filled two garbage bags with stuff (while they frantically tried to clean things up before I got to them.)
But now I'm wondering, "now what?" I never really thought about what I would do at this point. I mean I really don't want to throw everything away, there was some really good stuff in there. (The bags have stuffed animals, nerf guns, lots of legos, books, knex pieces, game boy games, other games and such.) But do I lose all credibility if I don't? I guess I never really told them what I would do once I "cleaned up" for them. Hmmm...What would you do?
After this happened they have since (without any prompting from me) cleaned up the playroom downstairs, vacuumed a few rooms, dusted some things, and cleaned around all of the light switches and doorknobs in the house. And then asked if they could have their stuff back. I told them no, but we would wait a week and see how clean they could keep their room and then we would talk about it. What do you think??
(Oh I have to add that I would never actually throw perfectly good things away, I would donate them if that is what it came down too.)
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5 comments:
Growing up my mom had a MAD BAG. When stuff was left out it made her mad; thus the bags name. she would confiscate whatever we were not able to take care of and we were able to earn our treasures back by completing some horrifying chore. If you had goods in the MAD BAG you'd better not even THINK of asking for something new. It worked for her. I tried it but my attention span was too short (and I only had half the kids to pick up after) so I just yelled. A lot. Still do.
I think you did a great job! I would for sure thank them for trying so hard to earn their stuff back! It sounds like they really are trying! But yea, either slowly let them earn different things back or wait and see how long they can keep the room clean. But don't go too far or they might just give up trying and that would defeat the purpose, you know? Boy I can't wait to have these wonderful experiences ;) I'm so glad I have you to watch and learn from!
P.S. My mom also did the garbage bag thing, but I don't remember how or if we got the stuff back. You should ask her.
You are such a mean mom....... kidding, kidding
:o) I'd do the same thing and it will be a great visual aid in the future. Lovely plan.
I was just reading in a book by the Eyres about teaching children responsibility, and they used a bag too. They painted a face on it and called it "gunny bag" and told the kids that he lives in the attic and every so often he comes down and eats all the toys that aren't put away. On Saturdays he spits everything back out in a big pile and if they're put away immediately he doesn't eat them again, but if they're eaten twice, they're gone. I also like the idea of earning things back, and it sounds like the kids are trying to do that...let us know how it turns out. :)
My dad did the garbage bag thing when Julie's and my room got really bad once. He put the garbage bags in the garage and our garage flooded a few days later ruining everything in those bags. Let me tell you, my room was never messy again! I agree, you should make them earn it back a little at a time. Just don't store the bags in your garage!
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