Chores. BLAH. Even as an Adult, I hate them. But, we all know that a house doesn't manage itself. Which is why I have done my darndest to find ways in which I could genuinely be excited about house work and in turn, get my kids excited about it too. Because, as we all know, work builds character. Seriously. All joking aside.
Now-a-days, I feel like society is all about teaching our children to simply expect the world, hell the whole universe, to them on a silver platter; completely dismissing the old, yet very true addage, "You have to work hard for the things you want most in this life.". However, all is not lost! Life's most crucial lessons are taught in the home. Many of them being issued through chores that have been around since the beginning of time. So, with that being said, I want to turn the rest of this topic over to Pheeby Snow. A phenomenal Mumsy who knows a thing or two about how to make chores an all inclusive and enjoyable experience for every member of your family.
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If there was
some magic trick for maintaining a perfectly clean home with minimum and even
no effort, life would be so much easier. Unfortunately, such universal solution
is really not likely to be invented soon. We are all bound to the good old and
often quite tiresome means of cleaning our
homes for life. Yet it might be much easier and less time-consuming when
we get some help from the other inhabitants,including the youngest ones. And if
you wonder when and whether you should include your children in the daily
household activities, I believe the following few paragraphs might help
you.
Scholars claim
that people and kids more particularly need to feel needed. And what a better
way to show them they are equally important family members than to assign to
them some daily or weekly chores. Thus, you will not only be given some help,
but you can also teach your young ones responsibility, something they really
need to be introduced to.
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Experts believe
that if chores are tradition in your family, you can include your children in
the chart of household activities from the age of 2-3. At first they can do
simple things like putting their toys away or piling books and magazines. Mind
you, do not expect perfection from the very beginning. Be patient and try not
to jump in to help. Practice makes perfect as we all know. So, initially, you
might want to show them how to do the chore, then have them do it under your
supervision and finally they will be ready to do it all by themselves. You
should also be specific in your instructions – use simple words but provide your
kids with detailed explanation of what exactly they are expected to do and
when. It is recommended to use professional help from companies like PerfectCleaning
for your cleaning chores.
When your
children grow a bit older, you can discuss with them what chores they feel most
comfortable with. Be sure to assign to them activities that are appropriate for
their age. For example, you cannot expect from a 4-year old one to make their
own breakfast, sew buttons, or do the ironing. This might turn into terrible
disaster with quite unpleasant consequences.
You can include
your young ones in the family chore chart, but you can also make them one
calendar with their daily and/or weekly household
tasks. You can buy those or download and print them out. But you can also
do them, encouraging your kids to help you. You can add as any columns as you
like. For example, you might have one for the activity and one to make a check
mark when it is complete. You can also add a column for a deadline. Let your
children decorate the calendar as they please. You should also place it where
it could be easily seen.
How many chores
should children be assigned to? Well, it depends mainly on their age. Experts
suggest that preschoolers can handle up to two simple daily tasks. As for the
older children, you can even assign to them some extra chores, if you think they
might feel comfortable with that. You can also try to motivate them by offering
them some small rewards for successfully completing their tasks. However, you
should be really careful, since this might turn into the only reason for your
kids to do their chores.
To sum up, if
you want to make your young ones feel as if they are equal members to the
family and to teach them some important
life lessons, assigning some household tasks to them is a really good way to do
it. Thus, you will not only receive some help, but you will also have some fun
with your kids.
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As Pheeby stated, "Practice makes perfect.". And I absolutely love it, because that's what motherhood is all about. Practice. Lots and lots of practice. So remember, if house hold chores don't initially go the way you planned don't sweat it. Do the best you can, teach your children to do the same, and know that that is enough. The rest will work itself out. It always does.
XOXOX,
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