WFMW - "Sweet" Motivation

My use of M&Ms as a training tool is well-known, perhaps approaching legendary :-). Here are some more “sweet” ideas to motivate children to accomplish some of YOUR organizational and cleaning objectives!

In getting ready for school, I challenged the children to a “Battle of the Trash.” I gave the boys and girls each a big trash bag and told them to fill it with stuff from their rooms and closets. I think in the end, combined, they filled 5.

I got out my spring scale and weighed the results – boys vs. girls. The end result was 62 pounds of trash left my home. The girl team won and they were each rewarded with a mini candy bar. The boys received a few M&Ms as a conciliation prize (I just can’t get away from those M&Ms).

For two weeks I announced that we would be having school bin inspections at an undisclosed time. The objective was to remove anything from their totes that were not directly needed to accomplish schoolwork. Those that heeded my words received (in their now impeccable bins) a mini candy bar. I also threw in a few silly bands because I’m the coolest mom ever! They were as surprised and delighted as Christmas to wake one morning and see the treats.