Chores for a 4 year old... a system that works for us!

I came to the realization it was time to teach Olivia some responsibility. I decided to "pay" her for helping me out around the house. She will get a quarter for cleaning the living room, her room or for randomly helping me without being asked. When she cleans the living room, I give her a quarter. When she cleans her room, I give her a quarter. By doing this, she can earn at least a dollar a day. Her reward is immediate. She has a jar she puts all of her money in when she gets it. She loves taking her money out and seeing how many quarters she has!

Once a week, we go to the store and she gets to pick out what she wants to buy with her money.  She took a purse in the store and got to shop around. She decided to get a pack of watermelon gum. I was shopping this day also, I put all of my things on the conveyor belt. We got the little divider bar and put it between our purchases and she put her gum on the conveyor belt too. I had to help her count out her money but other than that, she did all of it herself. She talked to the cashier, waited on her change and got her receipt. She got some change back and I told her to keep it.  Next week she might be able to get a toy or more candy. When we were leaving she said "This is some pretty big kid stuff".

When we got in the car she was so excited!  She said "I can't wait to tell daddy about what I bought today with my money!".  Everyday since then she has wanted a piece of her gum. She is so proud. 

On another day, she still had some money and she wanted a sonic drink. She told me what she wanted and we rehearsed what to say a few times. I let her push the button and she ordered her drink. Again, the only thing I helped her with was counting out the money.

Giving her immediate reward (quarters) for helping me around the house and letting her choose what she wants to buy gives her complete ownership of her chores and rewards. I haven't had any trouble getting her to clean her room or pick up her toys in the living room. In the past, this was always a fight and I ended up doing it all. By having her pick up the living room and her room every night, things don't accumulate to the point she can't handle it. This system is working very well for us in my house and I recommend trying this with your preschool aged child.

Cowboy Potatoes

I like to make what I call "Cowboy Potatoes". They go well with just about anything and they are super easy to make. Here is my recipe:

- 3 potaotes washed, not peeled
-2 T butter
-3 T minced garlic

1. Grease pan/ crock pot

2.Wash & Dice potatoes

3. Add butter and garlic

4. Stir

5. In oven: cook at 350 for a hour, or until the potatoes are tender
    In crockpot: cook on high for 3-4 hours, or until the potatoes are tender

6, Optional: add some cheese to the top

 

Step 2

 

 

 

Step 3

 

 

Step 4

 

 

 

Step 5

 

 

 

Cowboy potatoes are super easy and the whole family will enjoy them.

 

 

Summer Fun

My daughter just got back from a week with her grandma. In my case, grandparents are always trying to have a jam packed fun week whenever they get the grand kids. They plan something special for everyday. I got to thinking, shouldn't I be trying to do the same?!?!?! I am lucky to have the whole summer off to spend with my daughter and we should spend it right!! So, here is my attempt to do something fun everyday this summer!

1. Homemade pizza night

 

 

2. Paint rocks for the flower garden*

 

 

 3. Plant a flower garden

Olivia came home from her Grandma's and had made 4 flower pots.

We got potting soil and flower seeds, filled her plants and had enough to plant the flower beds around the house!

 

 

4. Let her cook her favorite meal

Pigs in a blanket

 

 

5. Barbie is moving came through our area.

We had to go! It was so much fun!*

 

 

6. Go to the local water park

 

7. Play nail salon*

 

 

8. Go on a boat trip

 

 

9. Go to a cave

 

 

10. Have a pick nick at the lake

 

 

11. Go to art day at the local library*

 

 

12. Go to a petting zoo*

 

 

13. Go to a swimming party

 

 

14. Let her earn her own money and then spend it on what she wants

There will be a separate blog entry about this one...

 

 

15. Go see a dance team*

 

 

16. Play beauty shop*

(we fixed her hair a different way & she loved it!!)

 

 

17.  Have a tea party*

 

 

 

 

18. Go see a movie

 

 

19. Have a dress up day*

 

20.  Go on a road trip

 

 

21.  Sew a dress

 

 

22.  Have a talent show*

 

 

23.  Go to a rodeo

(after bedazzling your own shirt and hat)

 

 

24. Have milkshakes with friends

 

25. Go get a snow cone

 

 

26. Turn 5

 

 

27. Have a campfire, make smores and tell spooky stories*

 

 

28. Get a new haircut

 

 

29. Visit a fish hatchery*

 

 

30. Go to a "Big Time" water park

 

 

 

31. Meet your favorite princess!!

 

 

32. Invite a friend over to make and decorate cookies*

 

 

33. Go bowling

 

 

34. Go to an indoor play ground

 

 

35. Go to a theme park

 

 

36. Play board games*

 

 

37. Visit a aquarium

 

 

38. Start dance classes

 

 

39. Go to a circus

 

 

40. Visit a bounce house

 

 

*the things noted with an * means we did these things for free. I checked our local library and other community events that were free.

 

This was a super fun, super cheap summer! Most of the things listed above cost less than$20.00.

 

Writing Woes

As a teacher, I have found that teaching writing is challenging to me. I have really gotten on the kick of using story starters to get my class's imagination going. So, I thought I would share. Here are 40 story starters that I came up with:

40 Second Grade Story Starters

 

If I were the president I would…

I woke up one morning. I looked in the mirror and I had turned into a…….

As soon as I arrived, I could sense that something was out of place...

I decided to go for an evening stroll.  I walked about three blocks when I felt it...

Sometimes I think my friend has strange powers. Every time he's around...

Every year on the first of April I take out my shoe box.

I was playing my favorite video game, and suddenly I was inside it!

I was stuck in an elevator with…

In the backyard, my dog found a mysterious necklace…

My best friend was just elected President!

I just found out my teacher used to be a…

My family just won the lottery!!!!!

I found a hidden treasure map…

I just got back from the zoo. I opened my backpack to find a monkey.

At the beach, I found an unusual seashell

An alien came to earth, and…

I was walking on the beach, when suddenly a genie popped out of an old lamp…

It was going to be the best day ever!

A fairy appears and tells you that you can have 2 wishes….

On a dark and stormy night, I looked out my window and saw…

On my way home from school one day, I found…

When I woke up this morning there was a…

It was a warm and sunny day when all of the sudden…

Last night I had a dream that…

I couldn’t believe my wish had come true…

I found a pair of magic tennis shoes…

My teacher had a surprise for the class…

It was field day and I was so excited to…

It was finally summer break and I was going on vacation to…

My friend invited me to a sleepover…

One day, I caught a leperchaun…

I found a lucky 4 leaf clover and you will never believe what happened…

One day while watching the clouds, I saw a…

One day, I noticed there was a door in the hall that I had never seen before.  I decided to open it…

If I could go anywhere in the world, I would go to…

One day, no teachers came to school…

Last night, it snowed 2 feet!

I found an old suitcase, inside it there were…

At my grandma’s, I found a strange looking mirror…

My teacher announced that today was a free day so I…