Saturday Box

[linda_loo]

deleted by author.

[jay&erinn]

Never tried it, but sounds like a great idea. Unfortunately DH is one of the biggest offenders and I'm not sure how it'd fly for him. He'd probably kill me for implementing it if he'd be included.
Also, what do you do with things like school books/homework that the kids clearly need for the next day at school? Technically I'm sure one time of receiving a lower grade, etc at school for not having supplies or even your homework would probably be all that was needed, but I'd have a hard time with something along those lines.
I think it's great for toys, clothes, shoes, games, etc. It may be easier to implement in the summer when kids are out of school and most of what they do is for enjoyment. Then I wouldn't feel so guilty making them miss points in school for not putting away the "important" (meaning important to me) stuff.

[jay&erinn]

That might be a good way to start at this age. My oldest will be 3 in about 6 weeks. I'll ask her to clean something up and she'll say, "No thank you." At least we taught her manners:p

That's our biggest problem, toys strewn across the floor of their bedrooms and the hallway. Crayons, Little People, etc.
That's a problem here too. Most of it's contained to the playroom, but sometimes DD#1 drags stuff into the kitchen, family room or bathroom (you know, 6 dolls have to go to the bathroom too) and then leaves it there. The playroom is a major throughway in our house too, so even though we have the toys fairly contained we still have to step on all those lovely little people when we try to walk through there in the dark.

We were joking last night, about how we are going to have to use one of those coffin-sized Rubbermaid tubs
DH would definately need one of those. I contain my mess to the top drawer of the desk in the office space and then a pile on the desk top. DH has piles. They're everywhere. There's one in the bedroom, two in the kitchen (one on the counter and one on top of the refrigerator), two on the desk, one on top of the filing cabinet and one in our closet on top of the safe. And that's just papers- stuff from work and for the house. That doesn't include clothes that just get dropped places. He could easily fill one of the rubbermaid containers- probably in a day.

[Sarah]

I do that.
Works like a charm. :D

[firefly]

she doesn't have a dd#4 yet. ;)

[firefly]

:o ah sorry :p you go on *other* boards. soph wouldn't deal with the saturday box. I've taken away toys that weren't put away and she didn't care. so they stayed gone. She has much to much toys anyways.

[Sarah]

sarah - works for dh or works for kiddos? how old was dd4 when you started using a saturday box? iow - do you think it would work for my youngest? i don't want to make a big fuss out of something, then have one kid not really *get* it and have to do this half-ass.
Works for DH and DD4. DD1, not somuch, but I take responsibility for her toys, and I ask DD4 to clean up her sister's stuff a lot, too. I think DD4 was around 2 when I started. I didn't officially do the box, but I would always say, "if this isn't picked up by dinner time, you lose it!" and she's usually remember. I do actually do some reminding throughout the day- my MIL does this with her teenager, and she does zero reminding, and I think it works to get rid of nagging with teens and DHs.