Does your child tend to make a face or procrastinate when you ask them to pick up their toys? You are not alone. Below are some simple tips to help encourage your children to pitch in around the home, teaching responsibility and having a good time!
Turn It Into a Game
This one seems obvious, but you’d be surprised by how often ‘fun with chores’ is overlooked for the ‘go clean up your room’ attitude. Inventing a silly song to sing while cleaning, creating simple games, like setting a timer and seeing who can pick up most toys by the time the buzzer goes is a great way to get kids interested and excited.
Let Them Choose
Giving kids the choice of what their chores are will help them feel like they have input. Some children LOVE loading the dishwasher or washing machine, while others enjoy organizing toys and feeding the dog. Let your child choose and you can almost guarantee more involvement.
Lead by Example
By showing the child where everything is supposed to go, and putting away a few items yourself, you are setting the example and lending them a hand. Not complaining about your own chores will also set the standard, as those little ears are always listening!
Reward System
Allowances are a really great way to teach older kids money management skills, but for the younger years, you can get away with simpler rewards like sticker charts, little treats or even an episode of their favourite show once the chore is completed.