Kids and Chores

Boy have I been lazy!  I haven't blogged for 2 months.  Maybe I need a New Year's resolution.

Let's talk about chores today.  Why do we make kids do them? For one, I think it is important as part of making kids become productive members of society. Do I want my kids going out into the world not knowing how to clean a bathroom or do laundry? Also I want my kids to feel responsible for themselves. There will be no mom to clean up after them in their workplace or home as an adult. Lastly, of course they are slave labor!

Here is what I have found helpful over the years.
1. Start early.  If a chore or clean up becomes part of a routine it makes eveyone's life easier. For example get kids in the habit of putting their dirty clothes in the hamper when they take them off and clearing their place at the table when they are done eating.

2. Make things simple. Kids (and most adults) have trouble following vague or complicated directions.  Instead of telling your child to clean their room tell them one thing to do at a time. For example, put the books on the bookcase.

3. Do it together.  If you are working with or near your child you will get better results.

4. Accept less than perfect results. Kids are not going to clean as well as you and if you criticize repeatedly they are less likely to put forth an effort (and argue more!)

5.  Assign a day of the week for recurring chores. In our house different kids are assigned days of the week that it is their turn to do the dishes. This eliminates the "I did it last time" argument.

6. Play to their strenghs / give choices.  Now, I wouldn't give a choice if they get to do a chore or not but I will give my kids a list of three chores that need to be done. They each get to pick one and then I will take what is left over.  It turns out I have one child who would rather clean the bathroom than vacuum. Go figure!

7. Give a time frame for completion for older kids. I discovered that if I didn't give a deadline my kids would wait and wait and wait...

8. Keep it short.  Give a task that can be done in 15 minutes or less.  (I do this for myself and it works great. Instead of cleaning the whole bathroom at a time I will scrub the tub one day, mop the floor another, etc)

9. Praise!

Let me know what strategies work for you .