“Dad! Dad! Can we go swimming?”.

“It’s time for bed now. We can talk about it in the morning.”

It’s the school holidays and, as I am teacher, I look after our son, Henry. And the dog, Charlie. Henry is 8 years old and full of energy, and wants to be busy. He wants to go out and do something every day but we need to do some jobs at home as well.

He gets up early every day and today is no different. He asks immediately if we can go swimming. I offer him a deal.

“We can go swimming when we have finished some jobs. Will you help me to do the jobs?”

He looks at me, still unsure, nervous about what he might have to do. He doesn’t answer so I explain:

“We have to empty the dishwasher, wash up, put the washing on, and hoover. Which do you want to do?”, I ask him.

He looks at me again, still unsure.

Eventually he says, “Can I wash the car instead?”.

I think carefully about what he is offering. The car does need cleaning but I don’t want to give in too easily. I want him to understand that there is hard work to do and he has to earn his treats.

I remember that he washed my car once before, but I was with him. This time he needs to do it on his own.

I pause and wander around the kitchen, thinking. He asís me ovar and ovar, “Please Dad, can I wash the car instead?”.

After a reasonable pause, I give in. I take him to the garage to find the bucket, sponge and car shampoo, and leave him to it.

I carry on with my jobs in the house, in peace and listening to the radio, and I check on him every 15 minutes. I see he is working hard and taking his job seriously.

He finishes and throws the sponge into the bucket with a shout of, “Dad, I’ve finished,” and I go outside to check his work.

I am amazed at how clean and shiny my car is and tell him he is an amazing car cleaner.

We go back into the house and pack our swimming clothes, and head to the swimming pool.

After our swim, he says, “I really enjoyed that, Dad. I really feel as if I earned my treat!”.

And I agree with him.

Henry and I talk about how working - and doing jobs - helps you to earn treats or, perhaps, money. He remembers cleaning the car and being taken swimming as his reward.

He gets up – full of energy and wanting to be busy, as always – and asks what jobs he can do today.

بعد الإفطار، نبدأ بالتفكير فيما يمكنه فعله حقا، بالنظر إلى حجمه. ثم نتكلم عما يجب فعله اليوم.

After breakfast, we start by thinking about what he can actually do, given his size. Then we talk about what needs to be done today.

I say we need some milk and bread from the grocery store in the village. Henry says the lawn needs mowing and we must walk the dog. I mention that the bathroom needs a good clean and the house needs to be hoovered.

We agree that Henry can walk the dog to the grocery store, tie him up outside, then go in and buy the milk and the bread. He sets off with an excited dog and a spring in his step. I find the rubber gloves and cleaning products, and set to cleaning the bathroom. This is the job I like the least, but I can’t ask Henry to do it. When I finish, I then take the hoover from the cupboard and hoover around the house. Everywhere looks and feels much cleaner when I finish.

Henry comes home with the milk and the bread, and the dog, and a bar of chocolate for each of us to have later. Great idea!

We decide to mow the lawn together. It takes a while. I push the mower and Henry rakes up the grass cuttings. He puts them in a pile in the corner, out of the way.

It’s almost lunch time and we have almost finished our jobs. Henry sets the table and I make us a sandwich. We sit down to eat lunch together.

We try to decide what to do in the afternoon and agree that we are both too tired and just want to stay at home and relax, and admire our work. And eat our chocolate, of course.

Another great idea!