The contest is now closed. Winners will be announced Monday.

Need to catch up on your work? Past posts in the Family Work series:
Principles and Vision
If Mama Ain’t Happy
Are My Kids Allergic to Work? {link up}
Chore Charts and Other Motivators {link up}
Family Work: Allowance – To Pay or Not To Pay (5 Reasons You May Want to Reconsider Paying Children to do Chores) {link up}
Teaching Children Adult Skills
And though not specifically about work, you won’t want to miss Nicholeen Peck’s guest post on Teaching Self Government. If you are looking for ways to reinforce the rules you have set, build stronger relationships, and react with calmness in your family, her post is a must read.

Welcome to my last post in the Family Work Series. It’s been a great experience for me to share what I know and to learn so much from you in your posts and comments. Thank you for being here with me; it’s an honor.
Today we are going to have some fun.

When is work not work?  When it is play!

I love Tom Sawyer. The amount of effort he puts into getting out of work cracks me up – he is so much like a real boy. I really enjoy the creativity Tom shows when he gets the other boys to white wash his fence. To him, it was a dreadful chore; to them it was a game.

Work consists of whatever a body is obliged to do and Play consists of whatever a body is not obliged to do. And this would help [Tom Sawyer] to understand why constructing artificial flowers or performing on a treadmill is work, while rolling ten pins or climbing Mount Blanc is only amusement. There are wealthy gentlemen in England who drive four-horse passenger-coaches twenty or thirty miles on a daily line, in the summer, because the privilege costs them considerable money; but if they were offered wages for the service, that would turn it into work and they would resign.
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Mark Twain

Tom was not adverse to labor, he just wanted it to be labor of his own choosing. (This is demonstrated later in the book when he and Huck, for fun, spend days in the broiling summer sun, using a pick-axe and shovel to dig for treasure.)
Children today are no different. I haven’t met a kid yet that wouldn’t like to dig holes in the yard, make mud pits, or hammer and saw, if given the chance. The trick is, kids only view those things as play when they are allowed to choose to do them.
Now maybe you are thinking, “That’s great, but I don’t want a bunch of holes in my yard.” I agree that there need to be boundaries set, but could you consider giving one small corner of your yard to the kids to use as they please? My friend once told me about a man she knew who said, “I could have a great yard, but I’m not raising grass. I’m raising boys.”
I feel that it is important to give kids opportunities to play at work. Let them feel the satisfaction of blisters and sore muscles gained while doing something they enjoy. Later when you have work that needs to be done, perhaps they will have a greater appreciation for it.
Of course, there are some jobs that your child might enjoy even if you ask them to participate.
Here are some ideas of when work is play:

• *Pet care
• Cooking or baking
• Washing the car
• Building a tree house, dog house or even a bird house
• Home repairs: painting, power washing the siding or deck, tightening hinges
• Car maintenance: check the oil, change a tire, pump the gas
• Planting a garden
• Sewing, knitting or other handcrafts

*In one of the workshops I have taught on Family Work, an attendee shared a great idea on cutting down the “it’s not my turn to take care of the dog” arguments. Every week, the dog would change owners. No – not to a new family, but to a different child in their family. When you are the “dog owner of the week”, you are responsible for feeding, walking, cleaning up after, etc. But you also get to have all of the privileges: the dog gets to sleep with you and you receive one less chore in other household areas to give you more time for pet care. I thought it was a brilliant idea.

Homework: This Labor Day weekend, find some kind of labor to engage in with your kids, but make it fun. Having a barbeque? Why not have a corn shucking contest, too? Plant some lettuce for your winter garden. Take advantage of the sales at the home stores and make something together (this play tent looks like a fun idea). We are planning on having a car wash and water fight. What will you do? Answer that question in the comments for a chance to win one of the following prizes:

Labor Day Work Party ~ Prizes to Win

Nicholeen Peck is sponsoring this giveaway with a copy of her book: Parenting A House United: Changing Children’s Hearts and Behaviors by Teaching Self Government. I’m not exaggerating to say that this book will change your life, and your family’s lives for the better. Applying the principles she teaches has made a huge impact on my family, and I am really excited to be able to share with you.

Parenting A House United is based on Nicholeen’s popular seminar series Teaching Self-Government.  This book shows parents the communication skills they need to teach children to govern themselves.  With the proper family envioronment and understanding of childhood behaviors homes can become happier.    Nicholeen’s candid story telling style and experience with tough teens makes the book usable and a joy for all to read.  Even if you have heard Nicholeen speak before you can’t pass this book up.  It promises new stories, examples, valuable question and answer and further insights never before shared.  It is sure to be an valuable family handbook.

Who wouldn’t mind finding adorable dust bunnies like these around the house?

Sarah from Sarahndipities on etsy is sponsoring this giveaway with a crocheted dust bunny.
Item description:Does your house pass the white glove test? Do you have dust bunnies under your bed? Do you need someone to help you do some spring cleaning?
This little crochet dust bunny may not be able to do the dishes or declutter, but he’s sure to put a smile on your face!
He has shiny black safety eyes and is made from super soft and furry acrylic yarn and stuffed with polyester fiberfill. He has fluffy yarn whiskers and floppy fuzzy ears. Looks so cute perched on a dresser or desk. Makes a great gift for a coworker, friend or baby! Each bunny measures approximately 3″ in diameter with 1.5″ ears.
Sarah has lots of other great crocheted items and patterns for sale in her shop. I am in love with this hat. Be sure to pop over and take a look.

With colors so bright, these eco-scrubbies can’t help but make doing the dishes fun.

Jane at Earth to Gert on etsy is sponsoring this giveaway with two eco-scrubbies (one each to two winners).
Item description:This eco-scrubby™ (handmade in the U.S.A.) is what your cleaning routine has been missing. Scrub pots and pans and sinks and showers and windows and counters and boots and buckets – until your eco-scrubby™ is dirty. Then just toss it in the washer, let air dry, and it is ready for your next dirty job. My personal scrubby is five years old and still going strong. Minimize disposable waste products associated with your everyday chores with an eco-scrubby! (Safe on teflon, does not mildew.)
In addition to the scrubbies, Earth to Gert sells great bags, journals and cards and all of her items are earth friendly.

Speaking of making work fun, can’t you just see your little girl begging to dust with one of these?

Lori, from Handcrafts by Lori on etsy is sponsoring this giveaway with one of her Cleaning Dust Mitts.
Item description:This upcycled cleaning mitt is made from sweater cuffs, leftover fleece from my sewing projects, and a terry towel. Help the environment and save on paper towels by using this sturdy washable cleaning mitt.
Be sure to stop by Lori’s shop and see what other fun things she has made.

What do you get when you cross a chore chart with a game? Something brilliant:

Susan from Elephant Tales on etsy is sponsoring this giveaway with one of her awesome chore dice.
Item description: This jumbo sized 2 1/2 inch die will be a big hit with the kids when chores typically aren’t. My kids love rolling for their chores and this die has perfectly rounded edges which makes it great for rolling!
Here’s how it works. Each side of the die contains a chore. There’s enough room to put 2-3 chores on each side if you prefer. The font will just be smaller. Each child rolls the die daily. If the 2nd child rolls the same chore, he/she gets to roll again. Want to make it really exciting? Have one side of the die say NO CHORES!
If you are the winner, you will be able to choose what chores you would like listed on the die as well as any color choices you would like for the sides.
See Susan’s shop for baby gifts, tooth fairy bottles, jewelry and more. (I’ve got my eye on this pen.)

That’s a total of six prizes, one each to six lucky winners.

To enter this giveaway, just answer this question in the comments:
What kind of fun labor will your family do this weekend?
If you don’t know, feel free to say “I don’t know” or just go ahead and make something up. 🙂

That’s it. No need to tweet this, share on facebook, like me, or jump through a burning hoop – but you are welcome to do any of those things if you like. Just be careful with the burning hoop thing.
If you have linked your blog to any of the link-ups in the family work series, you automatically received one entry. Leave a comment for a second chance.

Anyone is eligible to win the book (thanks, Nicholeen!). The esty items are open to US residents only.

Prizes will be awarded at random Friday, September 9th at 10:00 am PST.
Good luck!
Pst – I hope you win. You’re my favorite reader! Don’t tell the others.

Thank you to all of the sponsors of this giveaway. Please be sure to hop on over to their sites and see all of the wonderful things they have to offer.