Kids want to help, if you show them how.

Now that everyone is settling back in the school routine, it might be time for some changes.

I find myself getting so caught up in my daily rhythm I don’t even think that there might be a smarter way of doing things. Not until I am so swamped I fall over in bed, sleeping before my head touches the pillow. Funny how taking one step back, looking at the grander scope of things, always tends to help.

The boys are now back in school and one thing that makes a huge difference is their help. As a mom, often you don’t realize the kids have many resources and actually want to help but don’t know how. Spend a week or two to teach them, and you are set for life. Teach them that clean socks do not just come down from the sky, and that joint effort in the home is the best and only way. Our biggest task as parents is to show our children all the different aspects of life, which includes folding laundry and emptying the dishwasher.

For me, I started with small tasks when the boys were 4 and 6 years old. Things like: take your dishes to the sink after dinner, put your shoes and jacket in the right place, and just clean up after yourself. Then it evolved to: empty the dishwasher, empty the garbage, clean the toilet and vacuum. As the tasks evolve, they get older, and the reward gets bigger. I started out small with letting the boys decide what we had for dinner on Saturday if they completed all their chores that week. We even made the meal together (and then they helped with the dishes afterwards, of course). With boys, I’ve noticed that it’s always a competition.  For them, it became a contest of who got the best score (who completes the most chores). When they got older, around 7 years old, I gave them allowance, but only if they finished their chores. I rated them on Sunday and if they did extra well on every task and got all green smileys, then they could spend the money. The trick is not to make it too easy. Be a fair judge—not a soft mom. Otherwise the system does not work. 

How are you making your kids help out?

 

Here is an example of what could be on your fridge next week;