A spoonful of sugar

It must have rained in the night - our snow has melted away.  There's just a bit left alongside the driveway where we'd shovelled it, and a soggy white heap that was once a fort.  Sigh.  Still, the forecast is for colder weather as the week progresses, so fingers crossed we might get some more.

I came across a set of videos lately promoting the idea that people are more likely to do willingly what they should be doing anyway if (in true Mary Poppins fashion) an element of fun is added to the task.  For example, properly disposing of rubbish.  Or taking the stairs instead of the escalator.  There are more ideas along these lines at www.thefuntheory.com.

Can you think of a dull task you'd be more willing to do if it was "funned up"?  If so what, and how?  Or, do you ever reward yourself or others for doing the right thing, and if so how small or silly a reward can you get away with?  The Girl's Music teacher this year acknowledges good work by handing out little strips of decorative duct tape.  The twelve and thirteen year olds are all mad for it. What a teacher!