The girls are responsible for picking up their things in the playroom and on the back patio. They have to clean up three times every day - before breakfast, lunch, and dinner. If they happen to play in the playroom after dinner, it adds a fourth cleaning.
It gets pretty messy during the mornings, since that is their longest time to play. So when it's getting close to lunch time, I always make sure to give them plenty of time to get everything all nice and tidy again. There's always more than enough time, but if they linger and play some more, they may not get it done before the kitchen closes. (Consequences are pretty severe around here. It's just another way we are teaching the kids to "listen and obey, do it right away.") BUT, if they happen to get it clean with extra time left over, I reward them with PBS.
This morning the playroom was filthy! I think every toy was out, and they know they are allowed to get only one toy from the closet at a time. I was really thinking they weren't going to be able to get it all done, and I was dreading a big ordeal complete with whines and tears lasting all day long. (A huge mess like this is overwhelming for small children. Just think of the feeling we have before tackling cleaning when the whole house is a mess. Where do I begin?! Multiply that by 100 for our precious children.)
But they did an amazing job! Not only did they get it all done, but they did it with excellence! They even asked for cleaning wipes for their tables and chairs! And M told me she crawled around on the floor, picking up small pieces of trash (paper). I truly was amazed at their performance this morning. I was shocked when they came to tell me it was all clean. They did such a great job.
And they found such pleasure in completing the task. I wish I could have captured their smiles as I went to inspect their work. They were giddy with excitement - thrilled to have been faced with such a big task and gotten it all done. Their little faces were glowing with pride. I love watching my little girls succeed in life.
Way to go C, M and J!! You girls are growing up to be such fine little ladies. I'm so very proud of you. 
