Some tasks I detest more than others, oh laundry you are my arch enemy! but that's a post for another day...
How do you get kids to help with cleaning?
I always have my kids help with chores. It's important for kids to learn how to clean and they should be given responsibilities. We are teaching B, my five year old, how a family works together like a team it's not JUST mommy's job to cook clean and repeat 24/7, which is another reason why I love having her help in the kitchen. B has certain jobs she knows she has to do, such as; help unload and put away silverware and Tupperware from the dishwasher, put her clothes away when laundry is done, pick up her toys and make her bed. She's old enough to know how to clean up her toys and her room so she does that.
I consider grocery shopping with kids a chore, it's not much fun for them plus you're trying to juggle snacks, drinks, diaper bag, phone grocery list. Its just not much fun for anyone. My girls tend to behave the best in a "special cart" (see below pic) with a snack and drink. I DETEST these carts! It's a great idea but they are nearly impossible to maneuver and fit a weeks worth of groceries in. BUT I'll take the difficult shopping cart over screaming kids.
Here are the girls excited we found a fun cart, they are a precious commodity around here not easily found
I also have B help put things away on grocery day, in my fridge I have the bottom drawer designated for kids snacks that way they are easily assessable to the girls. So, when we get home from the grocery store I put the girls snacks in an area on the counter and B puts them in the drawer, sometimes K wants to help with this so she will also put things in the drawer with her sissy.
K also has this obsession with my k-cup storage, she loves rearranging the little cups and that keeps her busy for a good long time. I had bought some k-cups today and I let her be in charge of putting them away. She did this the entire time I put away groceries and cleaned up! This job is so entertaining for her.
Here's B after she's finished putting kids groceries away
That pose of hers! Always ready!
Don't mind the mess in the background my groceries weren't done just her part ;)
My 21 month old doesn't have required jobs yet but she likes doing whatever mommy and big sister do so when she shows interest in a job we are working on I let her get in on the chore as a stepping stone into responsibilities when she's older. It's great to get them involved in chores while they spike an interest in it. I did this with my 5 year old when she was a toddler and she rarely complains when doing chores. K likes to help put silverware away when I unload the dishwasher she also enjoys putting silverware into the dishwasher
When a 21 month old puts silverware away it's not exactly done perfectly but that's ok!
How can I say no to her happy little face wanting to help?!
B knows chores sometimes have to be done before we can get to the things we want to do like arts and crafts, the library, or a playdate. I know someday she may complain about how unfair chores are (she has tried this stunt a couple times) but it's now an expectation that just gets done. Sometimes there's resentment but most of the time we make it fun. When it's time to clean her playroom she likes to be timed to see how fast she can get her job done. She's so proud when she completes her task before the 2 minute timer is up.
We also have a reward system where if she does a chore without being asked, does a chore especially well, or if for some reason we have an extra time consuming day with chores she earns "responsibility rocks".
We got this idea from a preschool she attended, when the jar is full of rocks she earns a special treat. Usually she chooses a pizza party which consists of the whole family eating pizza in the living room with a movie. I love that's her choice as a reward! She could choose a book, a toy, a special outing but she always requests quality time with her family. I just love that so much, the fact that she enjoys her family so much she asks for time with us as a treat. Who knows, maybe she just loves pizza and I'm reading too far into this but I'll take it! Someday, she's going to want to do something else instead of spend time with her family so for now I am so grateful that she looks forward to a pizza party with her family and not yet a pizza party with just her friends.
I'm not very strict when it comes to a certain cleaning routine every single day, I wish I were but sometimes I procrastinate. I don't make my kids clean on a rigorous schedule everyday but when things need to get done they do. Usually the rule is, if we have a playdate or something fun planned the dishes and kitchen have to be completely done, and the toy room needs to be picked up. if those things don't get done because of a bad attitude then we don't get to go. I do this because I strongly believe kids need to have consequences for their actions. So, when my know-it-all 5 year old decides she's going to be headstrong and refuse to pick up, our library time gets taken away that day or we don't get to go to the park. Usually just reminding her that she loses the privilege gets her to pick up, sometimes it doesn't and she stands her ground so the privilege does get taken away.
I hate that part of parenting... consequences! but it's one of the most important parts I think if I'm going to raise great kids.
So, momma's, get your kids involved in chore time. It wont look perfect and won't get done especially fast but it's an important life lesson kids need to learn.
Don't be too hard on yourself for the things that don't get done, you're busy raising beautiful people!!! <3 <3
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