Family Chores Don’t Have To Bore Kids

Trying to inspire kids to do chores around the house is not exactly an easy task. A scene in most households is kids dragging their feet as soon as the word ‘chores’ is mentioned. How then do we get them motivated to help out? Let’s get into it and explore some routines that work that are both enjoyable for kids and entertaining for all involved!

Work Together as a Team

One quick and easy solution is to work as a team. Make it fun and encourage kids through example – kids love it when mom and dad show them how. This technique works particularly well with younger children who love copying and impressing their parents. To make the time go faster, I often play music that makes us all dance, like a scene out of Dirty Dancing that vacuum cleaner gets flown around the floor while singing out loud. Who says cleaning with the kids can’t be fun!

Cook With The Kids

It’s a great idea to turn time in the kitchen into a combined effort, that way things get done quicker and everyone has a little responsibility. One person is the DJ, one washes the dishes and the other is the head chef. Get the kids taking turns and watch the time fly by. Even young children can help lay the table and put the dishes away. Playing in the water can be really fun too, although you might be left with some extra cleaning up at the end!

Teach Them How To Do More Difficult Cleaning Duties

You might have heard that sticker rewards are used at school and could be used at home too. There is some controversy around this idea, and although in the short-term this may seem like a good idea, it can have detrimental effects later, especially if you want them to contribute for a higher purpose than just money or gifts.

It’s best to be specific with children and instead of saying “clean your room”, create a checklist of tasks which need doing. Once they are all complete, then it’s time for a small reward, whether it’s a sticker, a treat or even just a hug.

Kids Cleaning Can Have A Deeper Meaning

When kids get a sense that the work they are doing has a higher purpose, their willingness to commit becomes evident. A quote by Susan Tordella in Raising Able illustrates this. She writes: “Everyone craves feeling important, needed by, and connected to others”. Parents can help children achieve this feeling by praising their actions and virtues. Kids love to hear “You are so helpful today” or “Your thoughtfulness has made my day better.” Let the fist-pumps and high-fives fly high!

Be Proactive!

Get proactive with your kids and engage them with those monstrous chores, and the time will pass more quickly for everyone. My advice is always to start young -those crucial early years will set the tone for future habits. Kids who are used to helping mom and dad from an early age are more likely to continue to do so as they get older, even when they reach the teenage years.

By Emily Dick
Emily Dick is a blogger and writer who has a little toddler called Daisy. She has a degree in social sciences and loves to write about anything baby and toddler related. She has her brand-new parenting website whooopsadaisy.com on topics ranging from the latest kids toys to helpful parenting tips.