This single Mom of 3 kids, ages 6, 8 and 10, began following the program when her oldest was 3. Notice how much the children do on their own and how much quality time is worked into the routine!
Valerie – 48 years
Valerie works full time with flex hours.
- 3 days a week the kids ride the bus home
- 2 days a week she picks the kids up and drops the oldest at a local skate park where he is part of a program that mentors younger kids.
When the kids ride the bus home, their afternoon and evening are set up as follows:
Hillary – 6 years
- 3:00 – Comes home and makes snack and unwinds
- 3:30 – Completes afternoon contribution
- 4:00 – Outside with her brothers
- 4:30 – Helps mom prep for dinner and then starts on homework
- 6:00 – The family eats together
- 7:00 – Free time
- 8:00 – Nightly reading for school
Jared – 8 years
- 3:00 – Jumps on bike and does round up with kids in the neighborhood for an hour of tree climbing
- 4:00 – Completes afternoon contribution
- 4:30 – Homework and Reading
- 6:00 – Family Meal
- 7:00 – Helps mom clean up
- 7:30 – Free time
- 8:30 – Nightly reading for school
Elliot – 10 years
- 3:00 – Gets ready for neighborhood carpool to skateboard park
- 4:30 – Arrives home and takes care of afternoon contribution
- 5:30 – Showers and joins the family
- 6:00 – Family Dinner
- 7:00 – Homework
- 8:30 – Free Time which includes 30 minutes with mom to catch up on the day
Elliott has been managing his time since he was young and both he and his mom turned over his bedtime to him at the ripe age of 8. He manages to get himself to bed anywhere from 8:45 to 10:00.
When mom picks the kids up
Hillary – 6 years: Has packed a snack that she put in the car before she left for school since mom drives Elliott to the skate park which adds an additional 45 minutes in the car.
Jared – 8 years: Needs a chance to unwind and has agreed to play a video game in the car as long as he turns it off when they arrive home.
Elliot – 10 years: Spends time talking with mom since he will be gone for another 2 hours.
If you would like more information on training children, please check out Chapter 3 of the Parenting On Track™ Home program.
