Another playful technique is to turn a boring task into a challenge or a game. Instead of, “Look at this mess. You’re supposed to put your dirty clothes in the basket.” Try, “How many seconds do you think it will take to toss all your dirty clothes in the laundry basket? . . . Twenty? Oh dear, I don’t think so. That is way too much work to do in just twenty seconds. Okay, I guess it’s worth a try. Ready . . . set . . . go! . . . Holy cow, you did it in ten! You beat the clock.”
