Household Rules

I have had it up to here with my firstborn's messiness around the house.

In response to her suggestion that maybe we need household rules, I came up with a list of 7 which I gave her today.

Side note:
Hubby saw the list and was full of approval as he thought it came from Beth's teacher and was completely in accord with what we preach...then he found out I drafted it!

HOW TO BE SELF-DISCIPLINED AT HOME

Commandment 1: Tidy up after using things.

Reason: If you don’t put things back where they belong, no one will, and you won’t be able to find what you need when you need it.

E.g.

After doing craft work, put paints and art smock back in art box beneath whiteboard, stationery back in stationery box near the computer.

Commandment 2: Homework first

Reason: A student’s first job is to be an excellent learner. That includes doing homework.

Homework comes before your favourite TV program and computer game.

No TV during school days unless the family is watching it together and homework has been completed

Commandment 3: 30 min of Chinese and 15 min of keyboard practice a day

Reason: A little a day keeps the mental cobwebs away and helps you be more confident when it comes to Sat You will enjoy lessons more when you can understand and follow what the teacher is teaching.

Commandment 4: Get organized.

Unpack school bag when you get home. Remove lunchbox and water bottle, homework books, school notices.

Pack school bag and lay out your school uniform before you go to bed. Make sure you have everything you need: reader, homework books, library bag.

Reason: When you are well-organized, you feel good about yourself. You will never worry that you have forgotten something you were supposed to bring to school.

Commandment 5: No reading at meal times.

Reason: When you read, you forget to eat. Your food gets cold, the nutrition is lost, the food doesn’t taste as nice as when it was warm. You end up eating less than you should and not getting enough nutrients.

Commandment 6: Do as much as you can by yourself before asking for help.

Reason: If you can do it on your own, you should. You can handle simple things like brushing your teeth, getting dressed, taking a bath etc without Mummy/Daddy standing by.

Commandment 7: Be your little sister’s teacher.

Reason: Jordanne looks to you as a role model. She loves to do what you do and she learns best by copying you.

Keep doing what you’ve been doing:

• Teach her her ABCs
• Show her how to get dressed, how to brush her teeth and comb her hair, how to tidy up after herself
• Teach her how to read and write just like you have learnt, so she will be ready for school
• Tell her Bible stories, sing to her, read with her
• Teach her how to behave at Sunday School, how to pray