Candy Cleaning

Because we run a business (mostly) out of our home, we have an even greater challenge managing time than the average family with 4 kids 8 and under. Cleaning and keeping the house organized are no exception.

Although many things are kept up throughout the week, we set aside a few hours a week (usually Saturday morning) for "family cleaning time." This is when the kids do a thorough cleaning of their rooms and we get on our hands and knees and scrub the ceramic and hardwood floors (not my favorite), etc. Not only do the adults have to motivate themselves, but we have to in turn motivate the kids.

I will be honest and say that the reward charts and all those types of things are more work for me that it's worth and they always seem to get tampered with, so I have come up with my own solution for clean time, which is pretty much the only time we need a rewards system. Except for maybe at Grandma and Grandpa's house, the kids (nor the rest of us for the most part) don't consume soda-pop, candy or chips. So when "clean time" is over we all head out to the store and each child picks out a treat. It works out well. They each usually pick out something different and do "trades." You'd think they had won the lottery - it's great!

So, if you don't avoid soda, candy or chips for health reasons, you can use this as an excuse and have them only for special rewards. I know maid services cost much more than a $0.65 bag of Skittles.