This post is a summary of a Parents’ Talk about Kids’ Chore System I had the pleasure to give a couple of weeks ago at my kids’ school here in Dublin. If you’d like to watch the presentation, it’s over here. (14 min.)

Do you know that one woman created a list of 149 real-life skills we should teach our kids from age 2 to age 18? From “help empty dishwasher” at age 4 (“Yeah, my kids do this one!!”) to “Check and fill all car fluids” at age 16 (“OMG I didn’t think about that one!”) my enthusiasm began to melt away as the list went on and on… until I reached the end of the list and was completely overwhelmed.

I don’t know for you, but without getting this far, I think the author has a point. Beside developing real life skills – yes, “putting dirty socks in the hamper” IS a real-life skill if you ask me 😉 – I can think of a least 5 good reasons our kids should contribute more at home: Read more ›

It’s a Saturday morning and I’m not fully awake : sitting in my kitchen, snuggling a kiss in my 5 years old’s neck and sipping my usual decaf absentmindedly. As my too-hot decaf awakes me a little bit, I suddently notice several things : my boys are fully dressed, the breakfast table has been cleaned up, the dishwasher is empty. Then my oldest comes to me and says with a smile : “Mom, I just finished my homework for the weekend, can I begin my screen time please ?” I smile back to him, isn’t a perfect Saturday morning? God bless reward systems!!!

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