Getting the kids involved in household tasks

At some point every homemaker must get the family involved in household chores. Having your children help around the house has so many benefits. One of the most important being that they acquire a massive set of life skills that will help them forever. Life skills like how to run a home, clean, cook, and how to budget are all skills we need to have and are most often not taught in schools. So, it is up to us as parents to make sure our children are equipped for life once they leave home. What better time to start than when they are young?

Household chores don’t have to be a drab, we’ve got some tips on how to inspire your children and make those dull routines enjoyable and entertaining, not just for them but for you too.

Make chore-time playtime. Turn making the bed or cleaning their rooms into a dance party. Let your children choose their favourite dance tunes and make a playlist. Dance and act silly while they clean up. Challenge them, see who can pack away the most toys before a song ends or make the bed doing the silliest dance.

Switch-up the routine. Let your children take turns planning dinner for the week and then helping you prepare dinner. Or ask them to clean their sibling’s room instead of their own for a change. You can even get them to organise the spice rack or rinse and pack away their bath toys.

Make them feel important. Everyone craves the feeling of feeling important, being needed and connected to others. Take time to praise your children when they complete tasks or tell them how much it would mean to you if they helped you. You can say things like: “Thank you for helping me to unpack the groceries, we make a great team!” or “It would help me so much if you could feed the dog in the morning.”

Encourage independence. Bossiness is not motivating to kids. Letting them give input is essential in preserving their sense of self-reliance and self-assurance. Remember to not use controlling language. Instead use gentle suggestions such as, "It would be extremely helpful if you..." or "Hey, look, it's 5:00. Time to feed Fluffy." Boost their confidence by saying, "In our family, children make their own beds because they are just so good at it.” The more independent kids feel, the more motivated they will be to take on tasks and accomplish them from start to finish.

Children naturally want to be a part of the family and want to help. Ideally, you will encourage their participation (even if it takes more work on your part). They may not thank you in the short term for giving them chores. But it is important to remember that the goal is not necessarily to make your children happy; but rather to teach them life skills and a sense of responsibility that will last a lifetime.