Chores for Toddlers

I've been browsing the Simple Mom site and borrowing some of her ideas for simplifying and organizing my life. One of the things I read about on there is chore charts for toddlers. I've been thinking about this for a few months now... Cecelia is almost three and I definitely feel as though she is old enough to start doing some chores. I want to do what Simple Mom does and give her a sticker on a sticker chart for doing them and at the end of each week she gets a nickle for each sticker. Then she can set aside 10% for tithing, 10% for saving and the rest can go in a jar for spending.

My problem is, I can't come up with a list of chores for her!! I want them to be things that she can do somewhat independently, for example, picking up her toys before nap time and before bedtime each day. I also am planning to include helping me empty the dishwasher and feeding the fish. I will have to help her with those things a little bit- more like, she'll be helping me, but I want her to begin to learn responsibility for animals and I'd also like her to be learning to help with chores that benefit the whole family.

So help me out! Do you have ideas for other chores that a three year old would be capable of doing?

Wednesday Weekly

What is your favorite snack?

Blog for Primary Choristers

I started a blog for primary choristers last night. I'll be sharing what I use in my ward for the Primary and Nursery children. Please feel free to share the link with a Primary Chorister you know!

Music for Munchkins

http://www.musicforldsmunchkins.blogspot.com/

the big green monster

My almost four year old is jealous.

She is jealous of my eighteen month old.

I am not sure what I did wrong but I'm exasperated!

I hear people talk about how their kids love their new baby siblings and then I am jealous too! My daughter asked me one day when Lucy can go back in my tummy!!!! She takes her toys and shuts her in her room. If Lucy is in my lap, Meg climbs up and tries to push Lucy off and get on my lap. It goes on and on! They of course have their good moments too. Every morning Meg climbs into bed with us and snuggles, just her. She's often up later than Lucy too, and she gets me to herself during quiet time. So I don't think we're neglecting the girl!

I just feel like I missed some key element where my girls know that I love each of them. Equally.

How do you do it?

Wednesday Weekly

How do you like to pronounce "Aunt"?

Ant or Ahnt?

Tots and Tithing

This year at tithing settlement, our branch president encouraged us to start having our three year old pay tithing, even if it was just a dime here and there. We actually hadn't even started giving her an allowance, or money for doing chores or anything yet. We put money in her savings account, but she hasn't really been a part of it. So, last night for FHE we talked about tithing, then decorated a money jar by covering it in paper and coloring it, and adding ribbon and embellishments. (I was too cheap to buy a piggy bank, and I figured this way we had an activity to go with FHE!)

Anyway, to illustrate the concept of 10 percent, I gave her 10 dimes and then had her put one in a tithing envelope. But since then, I've been trying to figure out how it will actually work when I give her money from here on out. If I give her a random quarter for doing a chore, I can't really have her pay 2.5 cents in her tithing envelope. And it's not realistic that I'll always have ten dimes or ten pennies on me. Plus, I want to make it as simple as possible for a three year old, without having her make change, etc. Should we just wait til she has a few dollars saved, then pay tithing? For those of you that have started doing this, what works for you?

Books and preschoolers

We've had nightly book time since my oldest was just weeks old. Lately she has wanted to skip it all together. I can't blame her. Some of the books we've read for over 3 years. We check out library books from time to time to try and spice things up, but still, I think she views it more as interesting to babies (her 19 month old sister absolutely LOVES book time). I'm lucky enough to just about always have my husband home at night so recently I have read books to our youngest while he goes in my oldest's room and they tell stories to one another. I think storytelling is awesome too, but I just don't want my 3 year old to lose her love for books. Any suggestions on books, authors, etc. for the 3+ crowd? When do you start reading chapter books to your kids? Any other thoughts?

Pop Quiz: Rate your clutter factor.

1 - No Clutter
2 - Acceptable Clutter
3 - Getting Edgy - Too Much Clutter
4 - Can't Function - Way Too Much Clutter
5 - Christmas Happened, Clutter Has Taken Over the House

I started the week at a 5 and am thankfully getting down to a 2 or 3. I'm not sure if a 1 is ever attainable. How are you doing on finding room for all of that stuff?

(Late) Wednesday Weekly

Do you have a New Year's resolution to share? Happy 2010!

A new blog

My friend and I are made a blog called Suprising Our Men in 2010! I would invite you to come check it out. The whole idea is to each day do something big or small for our husbands to help strengthen our relationships and put some of the magic back in our marriages. Come check it out and if you have ideas of things we can do please let me know!! http://surprisingourmen.blogspot.com/