Few people really enjoy tidying up the house, so getting the kids to help is a real bonus. It isn’t always easy to persuade them to lend a hand, but there are ways of making chores fun so that little ones will want to get involved.
Make it a game
Using colors, shapes and numbers can get kids motivated. Start with picking up items from the floor or other play areas. Try asking them for all the objects that are red, then go on to blue or green; asking for items that have numbers or letters on them; or requesting items that are a particular shape, such as round or square. Keep it simple, provide clear instructions and give lots of praise – this is a great way of teaching toddlers while doing housework at the same time, and they will think it’s all a great game. As the children get older, they can be sent off to find items that have been left in other rooms using the same techniques.
Storage containers – chests, plastic crates, closets or other places to hide toys – can be painted in fun colors or decorated with pictures of the things that go inside them. Kids can play matching games with the mess, and before long it will all be put away. When they’re older, this method can also apply to laundry or kitchen items.
Setting goals for kids is another fun way of engaging them with housework. Challenge them to complete tasks in a certain number of minutes, depending on the age of the child. Younger ones will need a little longer to complete tasks, while older kids can try to beat previous “record” times. Giving lots of praise and encouragement while they work and when they finish will make kids want to do this fun activity again and again.
A cleanable space
Try to restrict play, especially messy play, to areas that are easy to clean. Washable wallpaper and paint, along with wipe-clean furnishings, easy-care fabrics and durable products such as leather chairs and laminate flooring can make the whole process of tidying up simpler – if kids see that it’s easy to do, they’re much more likely to do it. Sweeping a floor or wiping up a spill on leather or laminate is less of a chore than having to vacuum or wash rugs, carpets and upholstery fabric.
Start early
Don’t wait until kids are older to give them chores around the house. Start them young so the habit forms; this will help parents avoid the grouchy reluctance so often common with older offspring. Each child is different and will develop at a different rate, so don’t ask too much of them if they aren’t ready, because failure to complete a task will put them off trying the next time.
Lead by example
Bribery and empty threats don’t work in the long run. Rewarding good behavior with treats, extra computer and TV time or fun outings will motivate reluctant kids, but bribery sends the wrong message. Housework is the responsibility of everyone who lives in the house, not just mom and dad, and kids shouldn’t expect to be paid for every little chore they do. Leading by example and dancing around the house with a vacuum or mop, singing and smiling, will have little ones itching to join in.
