Kids and Lists

Kids Lists
One of the most popular lists for children comes from their parents, the dreaded Chores List!

Take out the garbage
Clean your room
Put your toys away

Some things never change!

Lisa, a young mother, makes a Chores List for her 5-year-old son TJ. She puts one item on the list each week and when the chore is completed TJ gets to cross it off.
Put away toys.
TJ loves having a list and is learning responsibility and the thrill of accomplishment.

Even more than the Chores List, I hated the Punishment List. You may or may not have done one... I did many!
1. I will not talk in class.
2. I will not talk in class.
3. I will not talk in class.
4. I will not talk in class
5. I will not talk in class.
How many of the following lists have your children made?

Countries
Spelling words
Planets
Vocabulary Words
States
Capitals
Multiplication tables
Science Terms
History Dates

This next generation will be Master Listers!

Lists and Laughter

Lists and Laughter

Lists and laughter seem to go hand in hand, how many jokes have you read or seen which contain lists?

If you go on the Internet and search ‘Laughter and Lists’ you will find actual web sites, which contain lists that will make you laugh. Here’s a good example of a Laughter List:
You're Not a Kid Anymore When …

You quit trying to hold in your stomach, no matter who walks into the room.
You enjoy watching the news.
The phone rings and you hope it's not for you.
The only reason you're still awake at 4 am is indigestion.
People ask what color your hair USED to be.
You're proud of your lawnmower.
Your best friend is dating someone half their age AND isn't breaking any laws.
You start singing along with the elevator music.
You really do want a new washing machine for your birthday.
Your car has four doors.
Neighbors borrow your tools.

David Letterman and the TOP TEN Lists are another great example.

Everybody Makes Lists!

Lists are for Everybody

If you go to Amazon.com and search for “lists”, you will find over 2000 references. Contrary to popular belief it is not just little old ladies who use lists!

Old, young, male, female, white, black, red, yellow, tall, short, fat, thin…it doesn’t matter, everyone uses lists.

Coaches have their lists of plays, teachers have their attendance list, firefighters have a list of safety equipment, and preachers have a list of prayers.

Duane has a list of the models he’s built, Mary Jo has standard packing lists for business and pleasure trips and Freda has a Party List with booze, decorations, food, and invitations she uses over and over again.

Karen makes her cleaning lists by rooms of her house. When she is cleaning the basement she doesn’t forget to put in a load of laundry while she is there.

Jennifer, an administrative assistant says she couldn’t survive without her lists. Not only does she make them for herself, she makes them for her boss.

Steven a vice president at a major corporation ends his workday by listing items by priority to address the next morning. Throughout the day he reviews, edits and updates his list. No wonder he is so successful!

Nancy was a Lister long before she became a proprietor of a Coffee Café. Now she has a master list to keep track of all her other lists.

Kay uses list with her clothes; she has one list on her calendar that she tracks the clothes she wears each day so she knows when she last wore something. She also has an ‘Accessory List’, where she keeps track of which accessory, for example a scarf belongs with each outfit.

Ron keeps track of his first edition books while Linda has a birthday list where she lists everyone by month and date and includes the year they were born.

Bed and Breakfast houses often have a guest list for people who have stayed with them. At my home I have a guest list for every one who has visited, but instead of writing down their names, I take their photo and keep them all in my photo guest book.

Jennifer used to always pack Todd’s suitcase for him when he was traveling. On one trip to a small ski resort in the mountains Jennifer remembered she had forgotten to pack his underwear. There are many things you can live without on a trip, but underwear is not one of them. Todd packs for himself now, and has developed his own packing list so as not to forget anything. (This can also be useful if you are flying and the airlines loses your luggage as you will have a complete inventory of what was in your bag).

What kind of lists do you make? Send me a sample or tip!