Don't let this post's title fool you... our family entry to middle school has been amazingly smooth. Our oldest son has been navigating 6th grade like a pro. He enjoys most of his classes, makes the best of the rare class he dislikes, and has embraced new responsibility with an eagerness that makes me smile on a daily basis.
This year, one new addition to our home is a series of whiteboards that serve as family calendar and to-do-list. Every family member has been assigned a different color and, although I write the main events on the calendar each month, each person adds their own info. as needed.
This year, one new addition to our home is a series of whiteboards that serve as family calendar and to-do-list. Every family member has been assigned a different color and, although I write the main events on the calendar each month, each person adds their own info. as needed.
The calendar serves as a reminder of upcoming events. My oldest monitors it regularly so that he knows which nights he can work on homework and which nights are filled with family events (meaning he'll need to complete his work in study hall instead).
I also write chores for the boys on their personal whiteboards, and they can expect a "Is your white board clear?" in response to any request to play the Wii. Our youngest tries to complete the chores as soon as they are listed - so there is no delay to screen-time when he's ready. Our oldest occasionally writes other duties on the board as a way of remembering school/club tasks he needs to complete. And... the boys have been known to write "Play soccer with your kids after dinner" on the parent white board.
This system takes little work to maintain and has kept me from nagging the boys about chores. Hopefully too, it is the first step in transition the boys to independently managing their own calendar/schedule. Eventually they'll have busy lives and homes of their own. I'll have to add to their lists -- "Call your mother."
I also write chores for the boys on their personal whiteboards, and they can expect a "Is your white board clear?" in response to any request to play the Wii. Our youngest tries to complete the chores as soon as they are listed - so there is no delay to screen-time when he's ready. Our oldest occasionally writes other duties on the board as a way of remembering school/club tasks he needs to complete. And... the boys have been known to write "Play soccer with your kids after dinner" on the parent white board.
This system takes little work to maintain and has kept me from nagging the boys about chores. Hopefully too, it is the first step in transition the boys to independently managing their own calendar/schedule. Eventually they'll have busy lives and homes of their own. I'll have to add to their lists -- "Call your mother."
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