Kids that actually help around the house… To many parents, that phrase sounds more like wishful thinking than reality! Luckily, there are a few simple strategies you can use to get your children to clean up after themselves and help with the household chores on a regular basis.
- Get your kids involved early. Of course, when your kids are especially young, they’ll be a bit limited as to which tasks they can complete on their own. But involving your kids in household tasks early on is a great way to integrate chores into their regular routine.
- Ask for help regularly, but provide variety in tasks. Ask your kids for help with various responsibilities a few times a week; this makes helping out an expected part of their routine. But rather than asking them to do the same task every time, try to mix it up to keep things a bit more fun. For more parenting information, take a look at BetterHelp.
- Give age-appropriate chores. The type of chores that a four-year-old can help with versus the type of chores a 10-year-old can help with is very different! Younger kids can clean up their toys, feed pets, and do other simple tasks; older kids are capable of washing dishes, emptying the rubbish, and even folding laundry.
- Teach them the best way to do things. If you expect your child to complete a task, be sure to give them a step-by-step lesson that explains exactly how you’d like it to be done. You can even throw in some cool tips and tricks that make the job easier! And if your child feels that a task is too difficult, or if they’re getting overwhelmed, help them out and complete the task as a team!
- Give plenty of reminders and praise. It’s completely normal to have to remind your kids to do their chores, and although it can be annoying and even downright frustrating, do your best to remain positive. Then, when your kids help out, be sure to thank them and compliment the way they did the task! Positive reinforcement and praise goes a long way.
While it’s not likely that your children will ever enjoy doing their chores, the strategies above are sure to help you create a positive habit and prepare your kids for the future!
