Problem Solving

Although my kids are very resistant to using the Problem List at Family Meeting, we have been able to use the Problem Solving method with success several times. Dan presented his problem at the meeting: "I have a problem when people run around the house naked, sticking their hands in their tushies and putting tushie germs on everything."

Here are the proposed solutions:
Dan - wear boxing gloves whenever naked to prevent tushie hands
me - kids are just not allowed to touch anything in the house
Hazel - hop on one foot for ten minutes (??)
Toby - no being naked unless you're changing your clothes or in the bathroom

Dan chose Toby's solution, everyone gave it a "five" (agreement) and we tried it for a week. At the next meeting, we asked how this solution had been working, and Hazel frowned and shook her head "no." With some questioning, she managed to explain that she missed some naked time especially when we play a chase-and-strip game (our most recent and successful solution to the problem of wearing dirty clothes for 5 days in a row). So she modified the previous solution to include an exception for the game, and everyone agreed to try this for a week and monitor tushie hands.

How awesome is it that a 3-year-old can critique and influence family policy successfully?