Our Mommyhood

As an adult, you probably dislike doing chores as much as your kids do. The trick to convincing your kids to do household chores is to think of ways to turn them into a game or contest. You can also personalize the chores so that your children take a special joy in getting them done. With a bit of creativity, chore-time can turn into fun-time for your entire family (including you!).

Personalized Chores

Putting clothing in the washers or folding clean laundry becomes a lot more fun for kids when they have their own personalized hamper or laundry basket. Take your kids to the store and let them choose a basket that they like. You can also decorate the baskets at home with stickers, poster paints or markers.

Awards for Chores

Who doesn’t love an award for a job well done or even for a job that’s simply done? At the start of each week, make up a list of chores for each child to complete by the end of the week. Write the name of each child on a big piece of poster board and list chores beside each name. As she/he completes the chores, put a sticker next to the chore.

At the end of the week, have an awards ceremony for the chores. The child who made her bed the most days out of the week can receive the “Best Bed-Maker” award. The child who went above and beyond his chore list can receive the “Greatest Achiever” award. Depending on the age of your children, the awards can be something simple such as a ribbon, pin or sticker. You could also use snacks, extended time on the phone, or whatever incentive fits your family!

Treasure Hunt

Turn dusting, sweeping, and vacuuming chores into a treasure hunt to make them more enjoyable and to make sure your kids dust or sweep under the hard to reach places. Tuck a few coins under vases or bowls on a table or bookcase. If your child is doing a thorough job of dusting, she/he will find the coins. Also hide a few coins or other small trinkets under the dining table or under chair legs. Don’t let your child know about the treasures beforehand. Once the chores are finished, compare the amount found with what you hid. This can tell you how thorough of a job they did.

Add Music

Chore time goes by a lot more quickly when music is involved. Let your child pick the music you play, or work together to create your own silly songs as you work. Keep in mind that older children may be embarrassed by their parents singing during chore time. If your child picks a song, use that song as a timer and see how many chores you get speed through before the end.

Let Them Pick

Give the child who sets the table and cleans up the dishes after dinner the option of choosing the next night’s dinner (or dessert). Your kids will be eager to help out in the kitchen, as it will mean they get to have a meal of their choice the next day. You will probably have to set limits on this one, though. For example, let your kids know that they can’t pick pizza for dinner more than once a week. It may be best to give them a few acceptable options to choose from. If you have more than one child, keep things fair by not letting the same child set and clear up two nights in a row.

Holly Watson is a stay at home mom who spends her extra time blogging on behalf of Sears and other deserving brands she enjoys. She loves the peace that fills the house once everyone leaves for the day just as much as she loves the energy that fills the house when everyone gets home. Holly hasn’t met a glass of wine she didn’t like.

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