I've come up with a new way to deal with the toys, etc, left in the house after I've told the kids to pick them up. I put them in a pile in my room. They have to pay a dollar to get them back. So far my youngest has spent four dollars to get stuff back. My eldest has decided nothing in the pile is worth it to him.

But today one thing went back in the pile that my youngest had redeemed. The wireless remote. They left it out and on when they went out to ride their bikes. They also left the game on. So that's going in the pile too. I think I am going to make a rule that you can't redeem an item more than once in a row. So if they want these back, my eldest will have to contribute.

It has helped a little. But obviously it hasn't stopped the leaving stuff out when it's not supposed to be out.