Roll the dice: Eliminating dinner time fights & getting the veggies eaten

Today I was on a Twitter party (Follow me! @a_fabuLESS_life ) earlier today and we were talking about dinner rules. I mentioned one that I normally don’t think about and all of the moms thought it was great. Isn’t it funny? Something that you don’t think much about others think is great.
So here is my quick tip – keep a pair of dice near your kitchen table. If there is ever a time that you serve something that your kids find well, less desirable (not that EVER happens at my house) just grab the dice.
Kid’s are in charge of their own fate. Roll the dice. Whatever number is on the dice is how many bites of that broccoli they have to take. Sometimes they get lucky and get a 2. Sometimes you get lucky and they get a 12.
But either way, it eliminates the dinner time fights. And the best part? Well besides the fact that the peas are being eaten… When they roll a big number and have to take 11 bites of vegetable goodness – you get to be the good guy! You get to say “Sorry, I didn’t roll the dice.”
There you have it. Vegetables are eaten. Fights are eliminated. And no one gets to blame you.
Win. Win. Win.

Amanda

       

DIY: Chore Magnets

DIY Chore Magnets
I’m going to say something that makes me feel like such an….

adult.Chores are good for kids.There. I said it. I’m completely an uncool mom.But hear me out.

1.I need help around the house.

2. I don’t want my son growing up, moving out and then appearing on Hoarders because he’s never had to do anything.

3. You can download video games onto the 3DS. And I’m tired of being asked a zillion times a day for a new game.

4. Same goes for Skylanders.

I thought about allowance. I’ve thought about mandatory chores. But I also wanted to raise a child who (hopefully, one day) will see something needs to be done and just does it. Proactive isn’t just the name of a face wash people!

Hence the chore magnets. Josh can pick his chores. They get done. And I’m one happy lady.

This project cost less than $5 and was super easy and quick to do!

Supplies:



Glass gems (find them over in the floral section of the craft stores)

Magnets

Mod Podge

Glue (I ended up using a glue gun)

Scissors

A list of chores with the value

Instructions:

DIY Chore Magnets

1. Print off your list. Make sure that you leave plenty of room between each chore. They don’t all have to be chores either! I added try a new food, play outside and read a book to some. And don’t forget parent’s choice! 🙂

DIY Chore Magnets

Don’t think this one will get picked very much, but you can’t blame a mama for trying!

DIY Chore Magnets

Put a glass gem over each of the chores. Trace and cut out.



Put a thin layer of Mod Podge on the flat side of the glass gem.



Place the cutout circles chore side down. Press all the air bubbles out. Wipe off any excess Mod Podge off with a paper towel.



Cut strips of magnets to fit. These are self adhesive, but I used a little hot glue for extra stability. Place on back – tada.

DIY Chore Magnets

You can print the chores on scrapbook paper if you want. I chose just white paper, but I printed in 3 colors – red, green and blue. Why you ask. Because this way we earn video game/TV time!

Each red chore = 10 minutes

Blue chores = 15 minutes

Green chores = 30 minutes

Virtual high five! Getting chores done, buying some of their own toys, AND limiting video game time. Triple score for mom!

Looking for more ideas? Check out our Marble Jar Reward System! (<— This is what we currently use!)

Linking here

**Update:

Here are my chores and their values:

take trash out – $0.50

take trash to curb and back in – $0.75

sort the laundry – $0.50

gather the wastebaskets – $0.25

clean the toliet – $1.00

vacuum a room – $0.50

make bed – $0.25

brush teeth – $0.25

set the table – $0.50

try a new food – $0.75

dust – $0.50

wipe down the bathroom – $0.75

clean room – $1.00

reading – $0.25

playing outside – $0.25