basic training

[miami]

Come on, ladies. Simply train 'em up yourself. That means, do NOT clean the stinky fridge after a 7 hour plan ride. Let it stink until DH cleans it. Then give him LOTS of positive reinforcement (praise, hugs, smiles). Don't withhold the praise until the job is done perfectly either. Lots and lots of praise for any honest try (that's called shaping the behavior you want). Same thing for the kids. They earn dessert or a special meal that they like after they clean up completely 3 days in a row. If they don't clean up, don't scold or punish, but don't do the cleaning for them either. Just ignore it until it bugs even them. When they clean, reinforce with lots of praise, attention, affection.

It's just like training your dog, your canary or any other animal. Ignore (extinguish) the behavior you want to reduce; reinforce the behavior you want to increase.

[sab1976]

I don't think ignoring my puppy when he pees on the couch would make him stop peeing. That's ridiculous.

[tigermorris]

DH already cleans the refrigerator.
He thinks he is a better cleaner than I am.
Good!