#22 Many hands make light work

I am now giving you permission to ask your children to do chores and help you around the house.
This not only can ease your load but teaches your children valuable lessons and practices that they must know to be well adjusted and able to take care of themselves.

Chores never killed anyone. Now it may sound like it when you first suggest this cruelty...but I assure you, if you hold to your guns, things will calm down.

Your children should:

Clean up after themselves in the kitchen
Clear the table after dinner and help to clean up the kitchen.
Deep clean the bathroom
Pick up any given room
Know how to use the vacuum and dust
Pick up their rooms
Hang clothes up
Take the trash out
Feed the pets and take care of them
Read to younger children
Play with younger children
Clean out the car
Pick up the yard
Wash the woodwork
Clean the appliances

Bring wood in.... feel free to add to the list !!

Now granted these need to be given to children of appropriate ages. At 13 give your child his/her own laundry basket with a free lesson on using the washer/dryer.

Start teaching when your children are young. Children can pick up toys...Throw things away...pick up the clothes and put them in the laundry.

Begin by doing it with them..sing a song..make it fun. " ok lets pick up all the blue things...the red things..."

Next leave them to do a little job on their own.
In the end you should be able to ask your child to do just about anything and know that it will be right.

Remember these things need to be taught...some things are caught but not much and if you want it done stellar you must teach/show how you want it done. If its not done right call the child back and give more instruction. Dont take it personally when they don't do a good job. They'll get it with PRACTICE. Hopefully it will dawn on them sooner rather than later that it is better to do it right the first time.

I remember if the job continued to not be done correctly I would add another chore. They catch on. If the bedroom was an issue, when they wanted to go somewhere or do something I would say "just a minute let me check your room." That worked after a few times of missing out.

Just mean what you say...no yelling...no threats...just fact. The majority of people do not have maids etc. at their beckon call.. And even if they may in their future they should still know how to do it!

Well have fun! Hows it going anyway? Are these articles helpful at all? Let me know!
Blessings Marnie