HOW TO MAKE CHILDREN DO AND LOVE THEIR WORK
A house full of children is a house in constant need of cleaning and tidying. And making children to put in place what they've thrown around could be a daunting task. It could end up never being done or at best it could end being done two weeks later - at their convenience. Many parents resort to punishment which is not pleasant to both parent and child and in addition it would still be the parent to later cheer up a sullen child. So what is the way out? By making children do their work and loving it, you have to understand children and what motivates them. I would discuss some strategies which parents and would-be parents would find useful:
Don't Make Work Sound like a Chore
When you give orders that something should be done you shouldn't make it sound as if it's one unpleasant task. Children note the tone of their parents' voice and know when they are being bossed which they don't really like. You could get them do the same work by giving orders in a more friendly tone. "Now dear, I would be going out and would be back in a minute do tidy the room up will you?"
Commend Jobs Done
After they must have done the assignment praise them for a job well done. Tell them how much you like the room now. Tell them what hardworking children they are to have finished their homework in time. Next time they would do the work happily in anticipation of another pat on the back.
Make Their Achievement Better than it really is
When a child has done something particularly praiseworthy you can seize that opportunity to score a point for yourself. Tell him how much better he is than other children who only do their homework in bus on the way to school. Tell her children who do their homework on time get to be successful doctors and astronauts (and it's not really lying is it?). I think that's the origin of all those "good-child-naughty-child" storybooks? Good child ends up doing well, while naughty child ends up miserable. Do be cautious however, because in time children would grow to know when they are merely being flattered and when they are genuinely being praised.
Make it into a Game
Can you make work look like a game? Yes you can, and your ingenuity is the only limit to making work look like fun. If you have something doing yourself you can create a game about who-would-finish-his-work-first! I bet, the little boy or girl would finish first and might even be willing to help you out after they're done.
Provide Something Tempting
Everyone loves a nice treat and children are no exception. Tell them after they've finished work you would be going out to somewhere interesting. Or when they are through they should come downstairs for some pancakes which you're making. Do not lie however otherwise they'll feel duped and cheated and would stop work when they've found out. And don't make it sound as if you'll be doing this because they've done their work: Children should be trained to see the value in the work itself.
Putting something pleasant however, after all the unpleasant hard-work would make them quickly dispatch the later to get the former. When they've done a shoddy work however, let them see your assertive self.
Do it for them
It has truly been said: If you want a job well done you should do it yourself. However, in the case you're not after it being done well but its being done. If a child won't do his washing or tidying then DO IT FOR HIM and save yourself all the trouble! And don't do this the way parents that spoil their children do.
This is the trickiest of them all: while it could be very effective, a parent could end being horrified to see that the child is not getting the message. The child could end up enjoying the spectacle of having his parent doing his work for him!
Through your actions make her see that she has really been a bad girl, however don't say this. Tell them to go to your room while you fixed theirs. She'll understand she has not been good when instead of being scolded she ends up being pampered. She would immediately see the contradiction. This is to make her feel guilt and unless she's spoilt she should feel this. Chances are that he would immediately jump into action.
In these ways, you can actually make your child do her work and even love doing it. I do not know what your last resorts are and I've not recommended any. Your child should cooperate with these methods however. When you make work be like a game and when you make effective use of psychology you could end up being that great parent with such well-behaved and adorable kids!
