How to have kids help around the house

Being a parent is hard enough without having to do everything around the house yourself.  Luckily, there are ways to get your kids to help out.  Here are a few tips on how to have kids help around the house.

Assign age-appropriate chores to your kids and make sure they understand what is expected of them

It has been said that assigning age-appropriate chores to your children is an important part of their development. Unfortunately, some parents might ask their kids to do the impossible; making them clean up a huge mess in five minutes or appearing to be a human vacuum cleaner, but just making sure they understand what is expected of them can turn a mundane task into something entertaining. Simple but integral tasks like making the bed, picking up toys or organizing their bedroom take only a couple of minutes, yet they will help them learn responsibility and appreciation for the effort that goes into making the house look great. So let’s make cleaning fun!

Put a chore chart on the fridge or someplace where everyone can see it so that everyone knows who is responsible for what

Creating a chore chart and displaying it somewhere in your home can really lighten the load of everyone doing chores. It can bring a little separation of duties between all the residents, removes any excuses or misunderstandings about who’s turn it is to do what and if done right, makes doing chores even enjoyable(!): Seeing all those empty boxes checked off after a job well done, could be like completing a masterpiece. Clap yourself on the back; you deserve it! So choose a spot in your home to put up that chore chart- make sure everyone can see it- and let the household run as smooth as possible!

Everyone helps each other and children learn responsibilities around the house

Families come in all shapes and sizes, but one thing they all have in common is the importance of helping each other. Teaching kids responsibility around the house can seem intimidating, but it’s an invaluable lesson. Not only do children learn practical skills like folding laundry or cooking dinner, they also develop an appreciation for teamwork and collaboration. Who knows — those skills may even come in handy tomorrow when they have to tackle their next group project with their classmates!

Before starting, be sure to explain what chores you would like your kids to do and any explanations.  Also if there are specific tasks that you don’t want your kids to do, be sure to explain why – sometimes they just need a little bit of guidance

Before your kids start any chores, lay out a few ground rules. Be sure to explain what tasks you’d like them to take on, from taking all their dirty clothes down to the laundry room, to cleaning underneath their bed no one likes cobwebs! And if there are specific things that they shouldn’t do, be sure to explain why. Sure, they may not always listen (it’s a rite of passage, right?) but giving them direction on why certain tasks should be left for mom or dad goes a long way – it gives them emotional guidance and understanding that’ll benefit the whole family in the long run.

Finally, don’t forget to have some fun together as a family – even if it’s just doing simple things like playing games or watching movies as a reward!  When everyone helps, the chores get done quicker and their is more time for fun activities.

Look, nobody said life with your family had to be drudgery – that’s why it is so important to build in time to just have some fun! Working together as a team can be great for achieving tasks, sure – but don’t forget that even if you all tackle the chores more efficiently then ever before, at the end of the day there are only so many window sills, shelves and floors you can wax before you start running out of ways to clean. So after you’ve mopped up every last room and wiped down all the baseboards, take a few minutes (or hours!) for something much more enjoyable – after all, it’s what weekends were made for! Whether its some good old-fashioned board games or something more tech-heavy like a video game tournament, everybody wins when family time is set aside for relaxation and entertainment.

If you follow these tips, you’ll be on your way to having a well-oiled family machine where everyone knows their part and contribute. And as always, have fun with it – because at the end of the day, that’s what family is all about. Helpful hint to get the chore chart rolling…start with few items per person and add more as they master their list. What are some creative ways you’ve gotten your kids to help out around the house?

Want additional help for cleaning the details like lights, baseboards, doors and dusting?  Vibrant Cleaning is happy to help so you come home to a clean home from top to bottom.  Click here to request a FREE quote Maid Service Medina Ohio.