Better Than an Alarm Clock
As many of you know, my son is obsessed with Star Wars. He loved the movie "The Clone Wars" (which I thought was only so-so), and is thrilled that a weekly Clone Wars cartoon is going to begin playing on Cartoon Network this Friday. For Halloween, he's going to be a Clone Trooper, and any stick within range is quickly transformed into a lightsaber.
Jeff decided to use this obsession as a way to get Eamon to help out more around the house. He and the boy struck a deal. If Eamon could earn enough points doing chores, we would convert those points into dollars so he could buy Obi-Wan Kenobi's star fighter from Episode 3. Not just any star fighter, but the red one, with the R2 unit in the wing. As an added bonus, if Eamon earned enough by the end of September, we would also get him an Obi-Wan action figure, free of charge.
Eamon was highly motivated to earn points. He was doing chores left and right, keeping his room clean, and helping Jeff with all kinds of household tasks. If I said, "Eamon, you want to clean the litter box?” he would jump up and reply, "OK Mama!"
It’s no surprise that he earned the star fighter 3 days ahead of schedule. He even woke up early on Friday morning to do one last chore so he could get the star fighter before school. Jeff took him out that afternoon to get his Obi-Wan Kenobi action figure, and the boy’s happiness was complete.
There is a drawback to all this though. Eamon now wants to get up early to play with his new toys before school. Not too big of a problem, except for the incident that occurred on Monday morning. At 3:45 am, I awoke to the sound of Eamon loudly opening his bedroom door, followed by some scuffling noises in the hallway. I started to drift back to sleep (why do I still think that if I ignore the sounds, the boy will quietly go back to bed?), but was soon startled awake again by Eamon, standing right in front of me, fully dressed and combing his hair. In an excited voice he declared, “Mama! I made my bed and got dressed, and now I’m combing my hair!” This means that he’s nearly done with his morning chores and is ready to eat breakfast. The poor kid was probably wondering why we were still in bed! I cracked my eyes open a bit wider and said, “Eamon, it’s too early to get up. You need to go back to bed.” “But Mama!” he protested. “Eamon…go back to sleep. It’s not time to wake up.”
Face crumpled in sadness, Eamon shuffled back to his room. Shortly after, I followed and saw a dejected little boy struggling to put on his pajamas. After helping him into bed, I talked to him about how much he loves his Star Wars toys and how he could play with them again when it wasn’t dark-o-clock. This seemed to mollify him a bit, and he went back to sleep. Until 5:30 am, when he again came into our room, hoping to get an early start on the day. Fortunately, this time he woke Jeff up, and I was able to get that last hour of sleep before my alarm went off at 6:30 am.
Jeff decided to use this obsession as a way to get Eamon to help out more around the house. He and the boy struck a deal. If Eamon could earn enough points doing chores, we would convert those points into dollars so he could buy Obi-Wan Kenobi's star fighter from Episode 3. Not just any star fighter, but the red one, with the R2 unit in the wing. As an added bonus, if Eamon earned enough by the end of September, we would also get him an Obi-Wan action figure, free of charge.
Eamon was highly motivated to earn points. He was doing chores left and right, keeping his room clean, and helping Jeff with all kinds of household tasks. If I said, "Eamon, you want to clean the litter box?” he would jump up and reply, "OK Mama!"
It’s no surprise that he earned the star fighter 3 days ahead of schedule. He even woke up early on Friday morning to do one last chore so he could get the star fighter before school. Jeff took him out that afternoon to get his Obi-Wan Kenobi action figure, and the boy’s happiness was complete.
There is a drawback to all this though. Eamon now wants to get up early to play with his new toys before school. Not too big of a problem, except for the incident that occurred on Monday morning. At 3:45 am, I awoke to the sound of Eamon loudly opening his bedroom door, followed by some scuffling noises in the hallway. I started to drift back to sleep (why do I still think that if I ignore the sounds, the boy will quietly go back to bed?), but was soon startled awake again by Eamon, standing right in front of me, fully dressed and combing his hair. In an excited voice he declared, “Mama! I made my bed and got dressed, and now I’m combing my hair!” This means that he’s nearly done with his morning chores and is ready to eat breakfast. The poor kid was probably wondering why we were still in bed! I cracked my eyes open a bit wider and said, “Eamon, it’s too early to get up. You need to go back to bed.” “But Mama!” he protested. “Eamon…go back to sleep. It’s not time to wake up.”
Face crumpled in sadness, Eamon shuffled back to his room. Shortly after, I followed and saw a dejected little boy struggling to put on his pajamas. After helping him into bed, I talked to him about how much he loves his Star Wars toys and how he could play with them again when it wasn’t dark-o-clock. This seemed to mollify him a bit, and he went back to sleep. Until 5:30 am, when he again came into our room, hoping to get an early start on the day. Fortunately, this time he woke Jeff up, and I was able to get that last hour of sleep before my alarm went off at 6:30 am.
ha ha oh what joy!
:)
Alina has always been our very early riser, but now that her preferred morning activity is copying sentences into a notebook, she's not the loud one. Instead I hear Anton every morning padding out to the kitchen to check the clock and see what time it is. Of course, if he hadn't taken apart (irreparably) the clock I got him for his room, he wouldn't need to go out to check every morning...
I know some parents whose kids are responsible enough to actually make their own breakfasts. I'm not sure that we are there yet, though Kirk does have our kids making their own school lunches now. Perhaps in the future!
I've got all the original Princess Leia figures...and Star Wars monoply...
Hey--how's your class this year? (Was going to e-mail, but am already commenting and l-a-z-y!)
ps Have many friends who kiddos aren't allowed up until the first number on the (digital, nach) clock say X. This has worked like a charm as young as 3...
Great strategy but... yeowch!!
Oh, god, I can hardly wait until their next sleep over.....
I am so not in the mood to get that early morning wake up call when my kids get older. I can see one christmas morning they will climb into bed with all their toys. hope you werent too tired to teach. speaking of teaching, how is vika doing this year? do you need anything I can help with or is her teacher this year better?
Sadly I would still be up - stupid insomnia!
Oh the joys of an early riser. My little boy has always been this way. We finally got him a digital clock for his room so that he can see how early it is. He has to stay in his room until 7 (in theory)......normally he comes in around six-ish and says, "Mommy it is only 6:17 but I need a snuggle."