Monday, February 17

Keeping Home: Getting the Little Ones on Board...



Tidying up, cleaning the kitchen, and keeping up with laundry is all well and good, but I am the one who is doing all the work in this house.  If I try to get my children to help, they end up fighting and whining and I start screaming.  How do I make this more pleasant for all of us?

If your kids don't find tidying up enjoyable, you aren't making it fun enough!  Make housekeeping a game.  Does Daddy take a shower every morning?  See if all the bedrooms can be cleaned, the laundry whirring away in the machine, with everyone sitting down for breakfast before he gets out of the bathroom.  Blast a favorite song and see if the room can be tidied before it is over.  Set the timer for ten minutes and race to clean the kitchen.  Talk about your day or plans for tomorrow while you fold and put away clothes together.  Make like Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle and pretend that an evil queen is coming to inspect your house to see if it is clean enough...  if it isn't, everyone will be locked in the dungeon.  Read an extra story, sing songs, or play a game as a reward children who are pleasant and helpful.

Make things fun and you will be shocked by the great results you get...  the best being a home that everyone helps keep nice!

2 comments:

Woman of the House said...

You could also assign a specific duty to each child. One child can pick up toys, the other can put books away, another one can make the bed, etc. That way you don't have children getting in each other's way. Just a suggestion. :)

Christine said...

I still have my Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle book from when I was growing up. I loved it then and I love it now.

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