Both of my children had a wonderful first grade teacher.  To motivate the students to pick up garbage and trash at the end of a school day, she would have them play a game called "secret piece of trash."  She would choose one child to secretly select one piece of trash around the room.  Then when everything was all cleaned up, they would tell her which student threw away that particular trash item.  The winning student got a small piece of candy.

I adapted this game and use it in my home sometimes.  When toys and things seem to be getting a little out of control - I go through my whole house and write down some "secret items."  Granted, they are not trash, they are toys.  I tell my girls to pick up and that we are playing "secret item" and they go and clean up.  Depending on how messy things are, I will select anywhere from 3 to 15 things.  Maybe it's a hat that didn't get put away, shoes left in the kitchen, or just some toys lying about.

When my girls come to me and tell me they are done picking up - I walk through the house.  I ask which girl picked up my secret items.  Whoever it was gets a small piece of candy.  I am not big on candy rewards, so I use very small candy - like an m&m per item, a lemonhead, sweet tart, etc.  If the particular item I wrote down did not get picked up - no one gets a piece of candy but they still have to put it away.  And sometimes, one girl will get more than the other.  I don't compensate for this.  It's just the way it gets played out.  They need to learn that life's not fair and you earn what you get.

This method has worked really well for me.  I do not do it all of the time.  I want my children to pick up because they care about their toys and belongings, because they choose to obey me, and because they are learning to be responsible.  But every once in awhile, when I feel they need a nudge and the job can be overwhelming - I use the "secret piece of trash" game to help them along.

~ Dionna Sanchez is always looking for ideas to help make her parenting job go a little smoother.  You can read more ideas at her website - http://www.EmphasisOnMoms.com