Children and Chores - The Gift of Future Success
One of the best things my parents ever did was give me chores growing up. I believe this is what set me up for success later in life.
My chores gave me a routine, taught me accountability and personal responsibility, and ensured I understood how to properly budget. Sure, they initially had to spend time with me, teaching me how to do my chores - from cleaning the toilets to completing the grocery shopping at the markets - but, eventually, I was able to do all of these things by myself, without their supervision.
I personally get excited when a client connects with Clean Club Calgary to schedule a cleaning and they say, “do not clean the kids’ bedrooms or bathroom as this is their responsibility.” The cleaning they book is just for the parents themselves (they’ve already learned responsibility, after all).
All it takes is 10 - 15 minutes a day for the following chores to be checked off and their own personal sense of accomplishment fulfilled!
Seven Kid-Friendly Chores
Setting Shoe Stand. This one is simple. Have your kids organize the shoes in entryways to the house (front door, mudroom, etc.) and say goodbye to scattered shoes...and tripping hazards.
Tidy-Up Their Room. Encourage them to make their bed each morning. This alone has many benefits - both physical and mental - beyond having a tidy room. Help them understand how to organize their room and get into the habit of putting laundry in the hamper, books on the shelf, and clean clothes in drawers and/or the closet. Chairs are for sitting, not storing a week’s worth of outfits.
Clean the Table After Each Meal. While your kids may be too young to tackle the cooking, they are most likely able to clear the table. Have them bring the dishes to the sink, put away any condiments, shake out placemats, and wipe down the table to remove any crumbs that made their way off the plates.
Organizing the Book/Movie/Game Stands. Like the shoe stand, simply have them do this weekly to make sure items are in order, books are facing the same way, movies are in their proper cases, and game pieces are all safely stored. While doing this, have them dust the stand itself to keep it looking great while taking away the dust that fills the air.
Fold Laundry. Personally, I still do not like this chore, but it’s one that serves me well...and ensures clothes don’t remain in the dryer, only to become cleanly wrinkled. Plus, this reduces the need to iron (and that’s a whole other stressor for many).
Organize Their Toys. Toys are great fun, but also have a place once the fun is done - the toy box. Encourage them to put their toys away after playtime is done. This ensures that no one accidentally steps or slips on the toy, removing a potential safety hazard. This goes doubly so for LEGO pieces - these are just painful when we step on them, and no child should hear the words that we say after we step on one of those tiny, sharp corners.
Another fun thing to do is, once a year, have them go through their toys and donate the ones they no longer play with. Make it a fun thing to do by teaching them about giving back and understanding that toys are meant to be played with. If they’re not playing with them, the toy is not “living” its purpose. Then, sit down with them, and read The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams Bianco.Grocery Shopping. This one does take longer than the 10 - 15 minutes as it involves going to the grocery store, shopping, and going home to then put the groceries away. So, make it a fun outing with you! Children can be a huge help while grocery shopping, picking out the right vegetables and fruits, finding the better “deals” on products based on simple math, and so on. For me, this was a significant chore every Saturday when growing up. I had to go to the markets and pick up all the food for the week ahead. What this did was help me understand how to properly budget, how to choose the right ingredients we needed for the week ahead (meal planning and preparation), and then how to even cook the meals later.
Other chores children can get involved with include:
Vacuuming the carpets and mopping the floors
Animal care (e.g., emptying the kitty litter box, walking the dog, feeding the gerbil, etc.)
Washing the dishes after they’ve made it to the counter
Meal preparation and cooking
Washing the car on a summer’s day
Yard care and maintenance
Collecting - and then taking out - the garbage, recycle, and compost
Stripping the beds and changing their sheets
And so much more!
Do not make chores a punishment as they will associate cleaning with something negative. And cleaning is anything but negative because of all the health benefits and life lessons it teaches along the way. If you need to motivate your kids to do their chores, make it fun. Have a chore chart that acquires stickers each time they complete a chore (I always loved getting star stickers for doing a job well done), have a chore wheel that spins and surprises them with which chore they get to do that week, make a game out of the chore, and celebrate once it’s completed.
Beyond having a clean home, this instills a sense of pride over one’s belongings and space. You’re helping them reduce all the unnecessary stimulation and clutter distractions in this overly stimulating world. You’re giving them the tools to care for their own household when they move out (don’t worry - one day they will). Chores are the perfect gift for children as this goes far beyond the clean itself but lasts for years to come. It’s the gift that truly keeps on giving.
Of course - you deserve a gift for yourself, too. If you need some support with your cleaning - or simply want to treat yourself - connect for a quote.
A little hint to keep your cleaning costs down - leave the kids’ rooms for them to clean ;)