Managing Children and Leading Staff

Though my Princesses are just two years apart from each other, their interests and capabilities are not quite close. Keeping them contented under the same roof could be challenging, but definitely doable. The more I look at it; I found it very similar to managing staff in the work environment.

Rule #1: Understand your staff, know what they like and what they do the best
LL (8-year-old) loves Harry Potter movies after she finished reading the whole series, but her sisters think they are scary. HH (3-year-old) prefers Sesame Street and Curious George. She particularly likes playing the games at pbskids.org and sesameworkshop.org. Our kindergartener YY (5.5-year-old) is busy learning and trying very hard to catch up with LL. She is the only one who wouldn’t mind to practice Chinese writing.

Rule #2: Assign projects that best fit their interest and capabilities
This is the reason we have three TVs and three computers at home. They are in separate locations and would not bother each other. No fighting. No tears.

Rule #3: Multitask
I would stop by each one to check their progress, answer questions and reassign tasks every 10-15 minutes. In between I have to do my work too – cooking, cleaning, you name it.

Rule #4: Give the opportunities to work together
How about drawing a giant picture with chalk in the backyard? Are you ready to make some jello? Let’s do it together.

Rule #5: Let them help each other and learn from each other
Sometimes I ask one read to the other, or one show the other shortcut to finish a task. Mom rewards those who help and those who learn from sisters patiently.

Rule #6: Some pain, some gain“Time is up. Piano time. You can come back to play the game after your finish practicing the new song.”

Rule #7: Give them limited options
Instead of asking what they want for lunch, ask if they want noodle or rice. Instead of asking whether they want any fruit (when you actually want them to have some anyway), ask if they prefer orange or mango.

Rule #8: Be fair – at least make them believe you are“LL took nap when she was at your age. You don’t need to nap after you turn six. It is fair. No question.”

Rule #9: Knows what to deal with conflicts“I told you: no one gets anything if you fight. The doll is now mine. I don’t care who started it. Someone should have come to me before the fight.”

Rule #10: Negotiate and build trust
Listen to what they want. If they want to go to McD to have the happy meal and toy, make a deal to go to noodle bar and then 99 cents store to get some stickers or such. Communicate with them that you are boss and all you want is their best. Lead them the way that they could and would trust you.

These are real management skills. Mothers should put these to the resumes.