Summertime Idea

Seeking Awards:
I have some ideas for some Awards for your children for the summer.
1. Kidsbowlfree.com this is a chance for them to bowl free 2 games every day
2. Go fishing (moms take a towel to hold the fish to help them take it off hook)
3. Afternoon play time in the hose/sprinkler
4. Trip to the zoo
5. Picnic at the park with the family
6. Trip to the lake/beach (whatever you might live close to)
7. New puzzle (and spend time putting it together)
8. Bake a cake
9. Neighborhood bike ride
10. Go to the drive in movie (if you have one close)
11. Go outside and catch fireflies
12. Take a blanket outside at night and watch start (beach, lake, dock, back yard)
I hope by these examples you can see the idea of awards. Basically awards are inexpensive ways of spending time with your children in a fun recreational way. These are ways of awarding them for good behavior and following their boundaries. Your children will work towards these awards once they get the idea of how they work. If you are giving your children awards that means they are doing exacely what they are suppose to be doing. Some people ask should I stop giving them if they are getting mostly awards. My answer is NOOOOOOOO.... why would you stop awarding them for following their rules/boundaries? They deserve it...and you deserve the special time with them that the awards are forcing you to spend with them. I say it this way because I experienced this my self... I saw that the awards were forcing me to have fun with my kids - they forced me to put down the dishes, clothes, computer and turn off the tv to spend time with them. I am so thankful for this and I hope they are also:-)
So, make your summer award list and reward them. You will not be able to see the growth and respect for the boundaries if you do not award them.

Tomorrow I will blog about some summer ideas for consequences!