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trying to keep smiling: quick trick, divide

home / quick trick / trying to keep smiling: quick trick, divide
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My husband taught me this Quick Trick, and he learned it first-hand way back when he and his brother were little. His dad had them use it when they had to cut the grass, and I think it’s a simple but ingenious way of having two little people do things in a fair way. I’ve used it a million times already with Maddy and Owen. Be forewarned: it’s tough at first, and there were many tears here, but it’s catching on. . .

  • Divide & Choose: If I only have one of something that two people want (granola bar, big pretzel stick, banana, cookie, etc.), and I am not in a position to divide it, I’ll hand it to either Maddy or Owen (depending on whose day it is) and say, You break it in half and let Owen (or Maddy) choose which half he (or she) wants.

That person then chooses which part he or she wants. If the “divider” breaks one half smaller, then the “chooser” gets to choose a bigger piece (and usually the “divider” has a fit). It takes a LOT of reminding at first, but it’s beginning to work.

My super-smart father-in-law often had one of his sons mow a line down the middle of the lawn, and the other one would then get to pick which side he wanted to mow. How great is that?!
It forces the “divider” to think hard before mowing that line or breaking that cookie–not an easy lesson to learn, but sometimes when I’m driving, cooking, or changing a diaper and cannot offer help, it does come in handy. . .

Thanks for subscribing to teachmama! Have a good one!

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About amy mascott

teacher, mother, dreamer. lover of literacy, fun learning, good food, and three crazy-cool kids. finder of four-leaf clovers | dc metro · http://about.me/amymascott
tweet with me: @teachmama

Previous Post: « fishing for colors | teach children colors with fun hands-on snacks just fishin’ for colors
Next Post: colors with cora | using lids to sort and learn colors learning and playing with colors for kids »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Justice Fergie

    March 16, 2009 at 1:37 am

    what a great idea! i wonder if i can implement this trick without having my 3 year old melt down of she doesn’t get the “half” she wants?

    Reply
  2. teachmama

    March 16, 2009 at 11:14 am

    Let me know when you find the answer to that one! Like I said, it’s rough at first. . .and probably better for older kiddos. But hey, we have to start somewhere!
    :*)

    Reply
  3. dana

    March 16, 2009 at 11:51 am

    great! this was on a peanut butter commercial wasn’t it? i also find that when my kiddos are getting kind of out of control, i will say, fold your hands and put them in your lap, and it seems to work a bit. read that somewhere…

    Reply
  4. teachmama

    March 16, 2009 at 3:55 pm

    Dana,I’m sure this was found somewhere–or a million places probably–I’m certainly not claiming to be the inventor of these tricks that tend to work for me. . . I’m just stealing them, using them on my kiddos, and sharing with my pals! Hands on lap works, though, too, and sometimes a lollipop or whatever will keep little cranky ones quiet and still. . .

    Reply
  5. dana

    March 16, 2009 at 6:14 pm

    sorry, didn’t mean to imply anything negative.

    Reply
  6. this week for dinner - jane maynard

    March 25, 2009 at 6:03 pm

    um, I think my husband and I sometimes use this trick on ourselves! if it’s something super yummy… 🙂

    Reply

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