Underwear on light fixtures, smelly socks under the couch cushions, dirty baby pyjamas on the floor… Uff! Dealing with all of it in a day may be exhausting when everyone else in the house is too busy with their chores.
Cleaning and tidying can wear you out, but you can take help from your kids and involve them while they still enjoy the experience.
We have compiled a list to help you turn the mess into a fun-filled experience!
One thing at a time
Your kids may find it challenging to transition from being the princes and princesses of mess to being mother’s little helpers. Allow them adequate time to adapt to this new routine.
You may consider providing your kids with a maximum of two or three clearly defined tasks to accomplish and then gradually grow the list.
A Good starter task might be: Organizing their toys and books at the end of the day, tossing their dirty t-shirts into a laundry basket, or clearing the dinner table on weekends.
Even a routine of this sort may be hard to maintain, so be patient and acknowledge them when they follow it correctly.
Take Turns
It is a good idea to rotate their chores regularly if you have more than one child so they won’t get bored or feel unfairly treated.
Following a month of cleaning out the hamster cage, they may find feeding the cat a welcome relief.
Offer Choices
Kids love choices as it gives them a sense of power and independence.
You may let your kids choose what they want to do, whether it is setting up the table for dinner or organizing their bookshelves.
Schedule time in advance to do the chores, and then have them commit to it regularly.
Don’t just tell them; show them
Demonstrate to your kids how to organize and do tasks properly and safely. Also, make sure they understand what you expect them to accomplish.
However, you may want to avoid being too hard on your kids for not completing a task perfectly. Your kids may need your assistance with a few tasks that they may find difficult. Instead of forcing them to do it on their own, you can lend a helping hand to show your support.
Do tasks together
Even simple tasks, like drying up or washing the car on your own, may be tedious. Seeking help from your children may make it more fun for you and teach them the value of participation. For instance, when you go shopping, invite them along and let them know why you only buy organic clothes. This will boost their interest in learning new things and increase their enthusiasm.
In addition to being a wonderful opportunity for chatting, it can also help you bond with your kids.
Start early
It is a good idea to get them involved in small chores at an early age. However, even small chores like teaching your toddler to put books away or have them arranged all over the room may significantly impact the child’s development.
It is often their favorite to use the dustpan and brush or swizzle a duster.Although doing it yourself is easier, encourage your toddler to do it and give them enough time to try.
Acknowledge and Reward
Recognize and reward your kids as this will keep them motivated.
As a reward they get a day off from domestic duties, hang out with their friends or play video games.
Don’t impose chores as punishments
Imposing chores as punishments may leave a negative impact on them. And as a result, rather than accepting chores as just an ordinary, fun task, they may end up viewing it as a punishment for their bad behaviour.
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