Are you like me and drowning in your housework? ...

Are you like me and drowning in your housework? ...

I just wash the floor and my kids will find the only bit of mud in the whole of Australia to track in across it.... or i'll clean the frige and the baby will open the door and

Trying to keep the house clean is impossible when you have kids as every time you get one area done the kids are there to mess it up. and if you have little darlings like mine then getting them to clean their mess is often more trouble than its worth..... Doing chores helps your child learn lessons about life and also make them self sufficient in years to come  always swore i would never bother cooking or cleaning as a teen...I'd find a man to do it all for me..... Luckily i woke up to myself or i would have starved and been buried alive years ago..alas life didn't brink the so called cleaning and cooking guru for me and i don't want my kids growing up expecting someone else to be there to do it all for them..........I have recently found the flylady.net website which is great at overcoming my bad habits  yet it doesn't help when the kids appear to be my biggest opposition....

my 5 yr old loves to wash and dry the dishes though I often try and put him off (Yeh my excuse is the whole broken dishes thing...but I was his age when I took on the job and I am sure mum would Happily tell you all that I broke a couple of dinner sets in my first year) ...when I get fuel for the car master 5 is there wanting to clean the windows(they end up dirtier somehow but he loves helping and it keeps him occupied) My daughter at 2 is very good at putting dirty dishes in the sink.... and carries her washing to her room when its folded....They also love to stir cakes when mummy cooks and of course fight over who gets to lick the  bowl.....

My mother was very good at teaching us as young kids how to keep our messes clean.... though lately I feel I have forgotten everything she said.....She started by holding our hands and helping us pick up blocks etc..yesterday I was at a drs appointment where my youngest was refusing to clean up the duplo..... I reverted back to my mums method and after helping missy moo with 3 blocks my 2yr old was doing it herself.....

How do we get our kids interested in helping us with Chores

1~Make the whole idea of chores magical and get a routine in place
It not just cleaning up the house;  Discuss with your kids the benefits of a clean house, for example the ability to find a toy or socks, or how you can see out the windows when they are clean.....make chores magical......  Its important to  try and do the same things morning and night, this helps your child learn to be in dependent and trustworthy. Don't make it too complicated, just age appropriate. . it may take a little while of perseverance but eventually the work will be automatic....My son loves to race me and so if i say i bet you cant do such and such in 10 mins..... then i know he will get the job done cause its competitve

2~You need to be involved and  Show your children how its done.
No longer can you use the saying "Do as I say, not as I do".......Kids need to see mummy and daddy doing chores so they are more willing to do it too... .kids learn through imitation and so if mummy's bedroom is clean then they will realize that that is the way it need to be in their room too....i remember my son saying to me "But mum your room is messy" ..wow...what a kick in the shins......out of the mouths of babes they say.....

3~Time to Clean out their toys and then do your own belated spring clean
Children become overwhelmed when they have too much stuff to put away. ADHD kids have an especially hard time with this. With less stuff, its easier to keep things clean.... I have had to throw out lots of master 5 stuff after Christmas so that he can keep his room at least passable... Ok so its now Your turn to throw! Look at what you have and get rid of everything you don't need. What things don't you use? Try to resist buying new things you don't need...I am the first to admit I am shocking at following this rule as my kids are the most spoilt on planet Earth im sure.

4~ Keep the jobs fun and simple.
 Turn chores into a game. by turning housework into a game you allow your child's imagination to turn work into something more enjoyable. Mary Poppins sure knew what to do...just a spoonful of sugar she says.......If its not done how you would , praise your child and walk away. Do not redo the job ...your children need to feel appreciated,so they will want to help again....when my son doesnt clean a plate to my expectations i just back away and when he isn't around i am able to quickly fix it up......the same thing with my back yard.... he puts his toys away and once a week when he is at school i come out and brush and tidy what he has not done....

5~ Let your kids help with meals.
teaching kids will ease your load  in years to come. Trust me do you wan to still be cooking every meal 10 years from now.... they can toss the salad, or set the table, this time is great as you can take time to talk... My son helped me make mashmallows today and so my chore of beating for 15 mins turned into his pleasure... even the 2 yr old held the beater with my help for  few mins....

6~ Let your kids have special jobs to do.....
maybe the House broom is to big for your little one but why not buy a dustpan and brush that they can think of as theirs.....or what about a spray bottle and cloth that they can use to wash the outside windows with......your little ones can also try and wash out the bath while they are having their bath and if its not done 100% then worry about next time you go into the bathroom..... Kids can help fold washing... finding matching socks for example......My kids help wash the outdoor furniture...they love a bucket to wash the car..... and they feel important and like they are contributing........Young children love to feel helpful. Simple responsibilities can give them a real boost of self-esteem.

7~ Most importantly do your housework with a smile on your face.....
I have recently realized that I often turn chores into drudgery and I look so grumpy when doing them so why would my kids ever want to try.....as they say like breeds like.....and if I don't enjoy a integral part of my life why would my kids ever want to help me....I hate  hanging out the washing...... Master 5 now loves the hanging out part and will take a basket out and put up the clothes ...again no where near my desire but i talk him thru it and he is getting better as time passes......... I am sure that i i had of winged and whined in front of him when i did it though then he wouldn't be so eager to do it now.....

My mum had her routine set up so that we all spent a Saturday morning cleaning before we got to go off and do anything else.....(she would still be doing work throughout the week ,...this was the extra jobs like our rooms, backyard etc).... after the work was done...we would get FAMILY TIME.....it was like a  reward for diligence and co opperation........

 So to finish off  what chores  fit your child's age, ability, and personality.

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