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Hello,
This may sound strange but it's been brewing in my head for a long time. Like many of you that have children, mine don't always listen. I'm starting to get really tired of this and have an idea for how I'd like to help motivate a bit of change around my house. I'm looking for a stack of bricks (50-100), preferably regular house bricks as my children are 11-5 in age and can't pick up the big ones.
My idea is that I'd have a stack of them at one end of my yard and when they haven't done what I've asked (like hang up their clothes for the 4th time that day) then they can move the brick stack from one side of the yard to the back of the yard. Nothing horrible, but it'll be nice and boring and hopefully it will teach them that picking up their clothes is so much easier than moving bricks :)
If you'd like to help out with this little project of mine, please let me know. I'll be happy to come pick them up and I'll pay you $10 to take them off your hands. I live in Boise and will travel anywhere in the valley.
Thanks!
Mike
Well, what did you think? Mean as heck or just the perfect plan? I personally think it could go both ways but it is creative as most of today's children don't seem to know the true meaning of hard work in relation to the luxuries they have on a daily basis. Mine included as evidenced by the recent loss of her cell phone usage for a week. Maybe I will try bricks when the texts exceed 5,000 per month. That would likely go over like a ton of bricks....... Get it?
Hi Heater,
ReplyDeleteLove your blog, especially the header picture, my favorite flower is daylilies and I have the in yellow all over my back yard. We used to give back yard chorus , but with purpose lawn mowing, weeds cleaning, leave picking….
Cheers,
Dee
Ha ha ha! I like the moving the bricks punishment.
ReplyDeleteLOL! Wow, I don't think it's cruel. I think it's actually quite meaningful and funny!
ReplyDeletePretty funny, I wonder if it would work for my daughter :)
ReplyDeleteHaha - while they're at it, can they build a raised garden bed with those bricks? I've been known to send my kids out to pick up sticks or rake leaves to earn back priveleges that have been revoked. It's one way to get em outside!
ReplyDeleteHi Heather~~ I think it's a good idea if your kid does something to merit this kind of punishment and this is where it becomes subjective. I might have tried it when my kids were younger. I don't think it's child abuse unless of course there is cruelty involved. For example being forced to do it barefoot in subfreezing temps or during the heat of summer or being threatened with worse. :)
ReplyDeleteIn Romania we have a punishment: stay in your corner, but on walnuts shells. I don't agree with physical punishments, like moving bricks, maybe 10-15 bricks, but not more. :)
ReplyDeleteA little bit of work is good for kids. They spend too much time playing video games and just sitting on their backsides nowdays. I love the way they put it - that the kids will find out that picking up their clothes is a whole lot easier than picking up the bricks. Oh and JGH had a great idea about building the raised flowerbed while they're at it! Love it!
ReplyDeleteI think it is great - though I think if his/her children are as stubborn as mine, then I imagine there would be a lot of balking :-D Regardless - it isn't a bad idea - and will help build up muscle!
ReplyDeleteHeather, this is funny, not mean at all.
ReplyDeleteIt made me laugh! Someone was really frustrated with their kids. Boy, do I remember those days!
ReplyDeleteOMG, Heather, my 14 yr old just lost her phone for a week (for over the limit texting!)..and no sleepovers (get them where it hurts!). I agree, if they're moving bricks, why not have them build a raised bed. Tough love..lol.
ReplyDeleteI think it's brilliant!
ReplyDeleteI think a little hard work would "straighten up" a lot of people!
ReplyDeleteSo many have become lazy. What they need is a taste of the outdoors. Whether you're young or old, hard work won't kill you. It builds character and teaches you to appreciate yourself and others.
Wish I'd had a stack of bricks for my boy!
I think it's very creative! I don't like the idea of having kids do this more than once or twice, though. I think it would help them figure out that they would rather put clothes away than move piles of bricks all day long! My kids are horrible w/picking up clothes, etc. I could still try this with my son, who's always finding excuses about why he can't do basic things like picking up! He is on restriction from his cellphone, and the computer at the moment, as well! It seems we all are dealing w/the same issues, no matter where we are living. Happy First Day of April!!
ReplyDeleteMore power to him! My little guy is just 20 months and we're adamant about him picking up at least some of his toys, clothes, etc. I realize more resistance will come but for now he does it most of the time (more so if you make a song or game out of it!) A trick for slamming doors ... remove the door. (my husband's father apparently did this to him)
ReplyDelete