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AIBU?

How to make it last? Too good to last?

12 replies

igotnotimeforthis · 23/09/2016 23:37

I'm aware this can sound like a stealth boast, but not meant to be.
Please tell me what can i do to make it last!

My 3yo (nearly 4) DS is suddenly completely in his own initiative tidying up all his toys in the evening and HOOVERING (admittedly not up to my standard but still).
All he asks when he finishes is a sticker or three.
I'm pretty, preetttyyy pleased to say the least after 3 years of picking up toys bucketloads every single day. Repeatedly.
So scared it will end though... He could get bored of stickers? I give lots of praise each time as well of course...
What can i do to make it last forever?
Buy more interesting stickers? Magic stickers? I don't know... I'm panicking when I should just be enjoying the toy free living room...

OP posts:
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PedantPending · 24/09/2016 03:55

You can upgrade him to dusting soon. At his level, but children seem to love having a duster and running over the horizontal surfaces. Even more exciting, it can be done before the hoovering!

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SabineUndine · 24/09/2016 07:19

He's old enough to make biscuits under supervision.

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Believeitornot · 24/09/2016 07:20

Just make it routine. Every night before bed it is tidy up time. You don't really want to get into rewards for housework - when he's older it'll get more expensive GrinGrinGrin

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RubbleBubble00 · 24/09/2016 07:23

Just make it part of the day. Every night you spend half and hour picking toys up and clearing bedroom floor.

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elodie2000 · 24/09/2016 07:26

As Believe said, make it a routine! When you see that stickers alone are starting to lose their appeal, up the reward! ( 5 stickers = a small toy or magazine at the weekend) Buy some special shiny stickers too, children love them for some unknown reason!!

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igotnotimeforthis · 24/09/2016 08:38

Biscuits for himself or for me Sabine?

It is a routine , it used to be me doing it and desperately trying to get him involved too, now after dinner he just says i'll go tidy up now and that's it Smile
Will get more different stickers..
The thing is he saves stickers for couple of days sometimes. Transfers them from one t shirt to another, so yesterday his shirt was covered in stickers .
Our washing machine broke down recently (just due to old age) and he was asking me if it was because of stickers (it wasn't i think)

Dusting is a good idea.
He also likes to fold laundry and put his clothes away.

OP posts:
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mum2Bomg · 24/09/2016 09:21

I know I sound like a sap but that's really cute. I hope my DD does this x

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T0ddlerSlave · 24/09/2016 09:25

Studies show no reward at all will make it last, doing it for the love of it rather than a reward, which makes it seem like an undesirable thing that needs rewarding.

Channel your Tom Sawyer!

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DoNotBlameMeIVotedRemain · 24/09/2016 09:25

Pocket money when stickers get old-hat?

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DurhamDurham · 24/09/2016 09:50

Dispense with the stickers and tell him that you will start his driving lessons/car fund now. It's might see a tad too soon but believe me when I tell you how expensive it is.........I could have been bribing my two for years to do the housework Grin

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ItsJustNotRight · 24/09/2016 09:57

Looking ahead a few years .... I used to pay my teenage son from about 13 to do the ironing. It was priced per item and recorded in a book. He used it to save up for things that were beyond usual pocket money price. It worked well in the days when there were 15+ shirts every week to get through. As an adult he has no problem with the household ironing.

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ProfessorPreciseaBug · 24/09/2016 22:19

OTOH... it could turn into OCD..

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